Test of transparency

Citizen Roberto Letaba enlivened politics in Cebu province on the eve of the official campaign period for the May 2013 elections when he asked the Office of the Ombudsman to conduct a  lifestyle check on One Cebu gubernatorial candidate Pablo John Garcia, congressman of the 3rd district.

He zeroed in on a visible marker with photos of Garcia’s gated “mansion” in the city.

Upon prodding by reporters, Letaba said he belonged to a group called the  Volunteers for Junjun Davide for a Change but denied being instigated by Liberal Party bet  Hilario Davide III to file the action. Letaba said he and Davide don’t even know each other. The candidate also denied knowing the complainant.

Regardless of his motivations, Letaba, by questioning Garcia’s recent acquisition of a P10-million house in Guadalupe, Cebu City, during his maiden term as congressman  raised a question about standards of  modesty, propriety and integrity that are  litmus tests for anyone  seeking to lead Cebu province.

The move opens not only Congressman Garcia but also Davide, a former Cebu City councilor, to similar  scrutiny.

Why shouldn’t   citizens   call for lifestyle checks of  officials and public figures seeking office in May?

Garcia and Davide, both lawyers with previous records in government service,  should be able to explain basic questions of how they make a living and support their family, the origin and measure of  any wealth they have, whether all are above board and  commensurate with their earnings.

The Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Net Worth  (SALN) which they used to file each year is a familiar document.

Disclosure is the test of transparency. With an election ahead, what better time to test this but now?

To be fair, Davide should  show his own residence in Lahug, Cebu City and explain how he acquired that aside from explaining his sources and extent of income.

By choosing to run on an anti-corruption  campaign in Cebu and presenting himself as the alternative “Mr. Clean”, this should be part of the public offfering.

While Congressman Garcia said he is open to  a lifestyle check and explained  his grand residence as funded by  a bank loan, he lost points by putting down  Letaba as a stooge of  Davide and taking a dig at the candidate “hiding” behind the complainant.

The issue should be faced squarely. A candidate should  be open to assessment without further ado.

A  lifestyle check can also provide a real teaching moment for Cebuanos on growing personal  wealth: how to become prosperous the legitimate way as against enriching oneself in office.

Why wait for  a Freedom of Information bill  to be passed into law in order to get public documents like the SALN in the open?

(Until Letaba filed the request, we wouldn’t have known about Garcia’s letter to the House  secretary general not to release his SALN  to interested parties unless he approves the request in writing.)

The campaign season throws wide open for scrutiny the values and lives of aspirants seeking public support. With fair opportunity to both candidates to explain their financial  health, will they rise to the challenge?