Crime Does Pay

Hole of Justice

By Peter G. Jimenea

 

Crime does pay!!

 

Iloilo Press Club past Pres. Rommel S. Ynion has filed a graft case against mayor (now congressman) Jerry Trenas, et al, for the grossly overpriced 16.2 hectares land purchased by the city as relocation site for squatters.

 

Trenas was still the mayor when this deal took place in 2006. It is an agricultural land situated at San Isidro, Jaro, Iloilo City, first valued at P2.7M but was bought later by the city government for P63.2M.

 

On why, only God knows. But no Ombudsman report as a result of their probe where the subplot of bribery stinks. The real estate broker exposed this in 2009 irked by the prodding of influential people wanting to have a share of the loot!

 

The boss as he described is Capone of his time. He sees to it that those who cooperated are rewarded and those who did not are discriminated against - a collusion of crooks who overtly professed what they covertly undertake.

 

He also said that those involved in this contemptuous deal are the city mayor, the city treasurer, the city assessor, the ICUPAO head, a city councilor, the lot owner and himself (the real estate broker) too.

 

It took me too much time transforming the issue into what it becomes today – a scroll that forms the basis of blasphemy. This recurring mess that had consumed the city for years seems not good for the Ombudsman as no crooks has received the spanking they deserved for this stupidity!

 

A relocation site of squatters at Barangay Lanit, Jaro, Iloilo City is also said to have been paid in full but to date the title was not yet transferred to the city government. DAR officials may have something to say about this!

 

That is not only what we are looking for. Here’s another for the heart, the Iloilo City government low cost housing project at its own lot in Pavia town, Iloilo. Its construction was a big sorry and that city government lot is now endangered of becoming the last casualty!

 

To recall, the project was bankrolled by the P120M loan for the construction of 413 units of houses for poor city hall employees. It started in 2001, first term of mayor Trenas and ended in 2009 without even a unit standing and completed. A hao shiao!

 

Worse, the Ombudsman found no probable cause to indict the mayor in this project. Even a fish vendor can say the unlawful payment of the mayor to the contractor violates R.A. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

 

What’s more, the Ombudsman-Visayas knew that lowly city hall employees are the most sorely tempted to steal but don’t. Yet, he fears to touch the cases filed by the taxpayers against the errant local officials at his office.

 

Senator Franklin Drilon, whether he admits it or not, is widely believed the one coddling and protects the undesirable underlings he had been tapping. But this tolerance to misdeed is malum in se - evil in itself!

 

Worse, they cling to power by election cheatings. This CPP-NPA claim is shared by the media. This is a crime that cries to God for justice.  Qui peccat ebrius luat sobrius – he who offends when drunk shall be punished when sober. God knows….. see the title!