The Ballad of Monalisa

Hole of Justice
by Peter G. Jimenea


Where's Monalisa?


Monalisa, is a legendary portrait of a beautiful lady, obssessed by men of her time. In fact, a song inspired by her was born and became a hit in the music market of yesteryears. 


Today, we have an alive and modern Monalisa, the resigned Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez. The story of cases filed at her office replicates the many dead dreams of foolish men at the doorstep of Monalisa the legend.


Like Monalisa, Omb Gutierrez' story would never go away. Never has there been public official so derelict and irresolute in duty and responsibility than her - the Monalisa of today.


Her deliberate neglect on that Low-Cost Housing scam filed against then Mayor Jerry Trenas and few city officials, gives us the  impression that she is bent on protecting the errant stooges of the Arroyo administration.


The Iloilo City low cost housing project site for city hall employees is in the eight hectares city government lot in Pavia, Iloilo. It was bankrolled by the P120M loan for the construction of 413 houses as stipulated in the contract between the contractor and the city government.


During the first month of the construction by Ace Builders of Alex Trinidad (a close friend of Mayor Trenas), the P120M loan with PNB was transferred to the Philippines Veterans Bank (PVB). On why, only God knows.


But the cost of transfer from PNB to PVB amounted to P12 million, making the new obligation of the city government to P132M. But this P12M is too much for documentation. On who shared the loot, just guess the rest!


The new problem is the discovery of substandard materials used by the contractor. The city council passed a unanimous resolution urging the mayor to rescind the contract and sue the contractor for that matter.


But the mayor ignored them, instead, he continued paying the contractor's billing in millions. He only suspended the project after two members of the city council filed a case against him and few city officials with the Office of the Ombudsman. 


Yet, Trinidad had already pocketed P90 million before he abandoned the project. Worse, despite the slippage of the project, the city continued paying P17,000 daily interest including holidays for over a year or another P24M plus.


The project for the 413 houses that started during the first term of Mayor Trenas in 2001, ended in 2009, months before he stepped down without a unit built. Lowly employees are most sorely tempted to steal but don't. Yet Trenas is an honorable man!


The case was filed with the Ombudsman against the mayor and few city officials about eight-year ago. But it slept there without result until Omb Gutierrez was forced to resign due to impeachment threat. This is what got me so disgusted about.


Congress is forum non convenience - an inconvenient place for conducting judicial business. so, finally she stepped down badly beaten by her looks. At last the arrogant lady make fun of crass words to save face. I hope the new Ombudsman takes this lesson to the heart. 


An employee at the office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City, claimed that Monalisa... ehe, este Omb. Gutierrez took the case folder of that Housing Scam on the premise of reviewing it personally. Well said, it is a review-in-eternity!


Monalisa wherever she is now, may have already learned that qui peccat ebrius luat sobrius - he who offends when drunk will be punished when sober. This pathetic government is not Ninoy Aquino's dream, because as usual, it's still Juan de la Cruz who get screwed in the end!