Hole of Justice

Hole of Justice

By Peter G. Jimenea

“Karma”

The attempt by corrupt officials to nip my articles from coming out on line shows they are ready to gird for war. It is only our misfortune that two important offices having been tapped to lead the war against corruption are not working properly.

The Commission on Audit (COA) is a government watchdog barks but doesn’t bite. The Office of the Ombudsman too, which officials’ irresoluteness has earned them the mock title “ The Office of Monalisa,” courtesy of former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.

Over the years, these two government offices have proved inefficient in handling crooks. COA tasked to peep on unauthorized spending of government funds has always failed to haul crooks and errant officials to the proper court of law.

On why, we have yet to know. But it creates an impression without affirming the perception that it is done in exchange for – you know what. In fact, some resident auditors covertly assist corrupt officials of the office in clearing their records for… just guess the rest!

Now here comes the people from the Office of Mona ehe, este Office of the Ombudsman. They are feared by government employees because of their powerful mandate in requiring them the filing of SALN (Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth).

The failure to file SALN can suspend or dismiss from services a government official or employee. It has also jurisdiction over cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan and may take over, at any stage, from any investigatory agency of the government, the investigation of graft cases.

What an investigative and prosecutory power of an office. Unfortunately, due to political intervention the many things they could do were set aside and left undone. The ones who get screwed in the end are the poor taxpayers - as usual.

I hate to imagine the laxity of officials in these offices because the government today seems to have been overrun by crooks. If we look at the cases filed in Court, justice has two faces, one for the poor and one for the rich who has plenty of leeway to cite the technicalities of the case. 

This is what happened to the failed Pavia Housing Project of the Iloilo City government. The case was filed in 2004 with the Office of the Ombudsman. But then mayor, now Cong. Jerry Trenas who abused the taxpayers’ money is still under further probe for his involvement in that scam to date!

The public must know because the one thing we all abhor is not a cheap shot. It involves your money, my money, our money or the taxpayers’ money. But look, the Deputy Ombudsman is still groping in the dark for a probable cause when the unauthorized payment of the mayor to the contractor is embraced in RA 3019.

On why the task to further probe the involvement of then Mayor Trenas is still sleeping in the office of Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol since August 2010, I believed he has a lot of explaining to do!

 He should know that it is only for him and government crooks that this neglect is good. Lest he forgets; qui peccat ebrius luat sobrius - he who offends when drunk shall be punished when sober. In a street-smart term “Karma.”

This writer understands on why some government officials tolerate brave words. For sure that is to save face. But what keeps Mr. Apostol in dangling his decision on this Pavia Housing mess? The tragedy is not his agony from the negative tirades, because until he did, we cannot rest our case!