Tears over theft
Last Sunday, I read from the official newsletter of the Sacred Heart Parish, “Ignite”, an article titled “What Made Cardinal Tagle Cry.” It described our lawmakers’ illicit use of their pork barrel funds as heartbreaking.
Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle broke into tears as he called for a probe into the P10-billion scam which implicated five senators and 23 members of the House of Representatives.
“Who will not be shocked by these reports and the magnitude of money involved?” Cardinal Tagle said in a news briefing. “Can one really do this to one’s neighbor? Can one really stomach causing this kind of damage on the country?”
He urged authorities to conduct a thorough investigation of the scandal as well as past allegations of corruption which he said “are in danger of being forgotten.”
Next week, there will be a “Million People March” in Manila to seek the abolition of the lawmakers’ pork barrel.
An investigation has shown that the amount of pork barrel funds lost in fake foundations is not just P10 billion but more. That is why many of our people are scandalized and are asking for its abolition.
Just imagine the number of schools or other infrastructure that would have been built and food that would have been bought and given to the poor using the huge sums that changed hands in the scam.
I am not in favor for the abolition of the pork barrel because I have seen the good it has brought to many parts of the country.
Instead, I am proposing that it be removed from congressmen and senators because they have no business implementing infrastructure projects. The money should be given with very strict guidelines for use, to local government units.
It could be put to better use there and be less vulnerable to corruption because it is closer to the people and will no longer be lost in the confusing maze of the national bureaucracy. In local governments, the people would have an easier time guarding their money.
The National Bureau of Investigation’s illustration of the flow of pork barrel funds showed that lawmakers involved knew that their pork barrel was used in the scam because their permission is obtained before the money is released.
But today many of those involved are singing another tune saying that they are not aware of it.
Cardinal Tagle is correct. There should be a thorough investigation to hold accountable those involved. The Office of the Ombudsman should lead the investigation in coordination with the Senate and the House of Representatives.
I believe that President Benigno Aquino III should push for the investigation under his tuwid na daan advocacy. Our national lawmakers have long abused the pork barrel, enriching themselves at the expense of the people.
Enough is enough. It is time to transfer the pork barrel to local government officials. In a way, this would answer the many needs of our local government officials who have to attend to the concerns of their constituents instead of wasting their time and effort as they seek financial assistance from national officials.
The people should speak out about abuses of the pork barrel just like what the people in Manila are going to do next week, marching to protest the abuse. I hope that we in Cebu will do something similar.
President Aquino has so far been an honest President but he is too lethargic when it comes to investigating and acting on the complaints of the people. So far, we have not heard any categorical statement from the President about the pork barrel scam.
I am hoping that the President immediately takes action.
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This Thursday at 10 a.m., Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale is meeting tourism stakeholders to settle problems encountered by some car rental firms.
As I have reported, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has issued a moratorium on the issuance of franchises so that the Land Transportation Office has been apprehending tourist buses without franchises, thus preventing them from serving tourists in Cebu.
LTFRB insisted that before the owners and operators buy new vehicles they should check if franchises are available.
The demand for tourist buses and vehicles is high and can’t wait for the LTFRB to lift the moratorium.
We hope that Magpale’s committee can address the complaints of legitimate car rental operators.
