Abulomania

Hole of Justice

By Peter G. Jimenea

Abulomania

For a P60,860 shortage in cash accounts, a lady revenue collection officer 1 of the Provincial Treasurer’s Office of Negros Occidental, Estrellita C. Chica was slapped with a three months suspension without pay by Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol.

Wow! The case filed in 2007, was decided in just four years, December 28, 2012. What a fast decision by Omb. Apostol. But the Pavia Housing Scam of the Iloilo City government with P137M cost filed in 2004 (eight years ago), was not yet resolved.

That project of graduating Mayor Mansueto Malabor for City Hall employees was bankrolled by a bond floatation of P120M. The bond was cornered by the Philippine National Bank (PNB) for a profit of P5M, binding the city government to an obligation of P125M.

After the turn-over of the project to newly elected mayor Jerry Trenas, a P17M was released in advance from the PNB. On why, they have yet to say. But as to who shared the loot being an illegal disbursement, only God knows.

The 413 units of low-cost houses were contracted by Ace Builders Enterprise (ABE) and started in 2001. But the contractor’s billing for work done is directed to PNB for payment. The process pains someone who has that large propensity to ask compensation for what he never lost!

So that’s it. The P125M city obligation to the PNB was suddenly transferred to Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB) incurring a cost of P12M for documentation (kuno). Worse, other than additional burden for taxpayers, the bank deposit became a savings account of crooks to pounce for every chance they get!

The problem starts when the contractor was discovered using substandard materials in the construction of houses. Alarmed, the city council passed a unanimous resolution urging the mayor to suspend the project and sue the contractor.

The mayor ignored it. Instead, he continued paying the bill of the contractor in millions. Mind you, despite the breach of contract, their will was done. Thus, councilors Raul Gonzalez, Jr. and Antonio Pesina filed a case against Trenas and Ace Builders at the Office of the Ombudsman in 2004.

But then Omb. Monalis… este Merceditas Gutierrez  just sat on that case on the enticing order of someone whose voice is her command. The subordinate who overtly professed what he covertly undertakes. This gives me enough reason to suspect that office is a house of ill refute.

True, we have no guarantee that when a crook steps down, all stooges go with her. Look, Overall Deputy Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro treated us with false impression of a speedy disposal of cases while actually resulting in more delay if not a miscarriage of justice.

He indicted only Mayor Malabor while giving Trenas a leeway to smile to the ears. It creates an impression without affirming the pereption the indefinite extension of time for further investigation of Trenas involvement is in exchange for - you know what!

The task on further probing of Cong. Trenas in the Housing Scam was already in the hands of Apostol since last year. But months passed, yet, we heard nothing from him about the result of that “further investigation.” He should know that injustice lies fairly in “delay” rather than in “erroneous” decision which can be appealed immediately.

Investigation-in-eternity is what we feared most. Apostol has proven himself in the case of Estrellita Chico with only P60,860.00 shortage. Now let see if this P137M for 413 houses without a unit completed can activate a working-brain to gauge whether this case is good or not for the Ombudsman!

We are slowly losing trust in the speedy disposition of cases at the Ombudsman Office. We can only pray that Apostol and his Iloilo Office staffers shall be freed from that form of insanity characterized by loss of will power better known in Latin as ..… see the title!