Lofty goal

Zero corruption is a lofty goal set by the Ombudsman in the Visayas when it marked the 2013 International Anti-Corruption Day at Camp Lapu-Lapu last Monday.

Proof of how tall is the order is the discovery of unauthorized fees being collected from carnival operators in the South Road Properties (SRP). The Cebu City Treasurer’s Office denied they were issuing special permits to vendors who paid P12,000 as reservation fees.

Acting City Treasurer Diwas Cuevas said she did not authorize the fees, which operators ostensibly paid to the United Multi-Sectoral Coordinating Council of the City of Cebu (UMC4).

This places the burden of recovering the money on the vendors themselves.

So who is benefitting from the fees and why isn’t this properly recorded as income for the city?

It’s not enough to sweep away inquiries by calling the setup a “public-pirvate partnership” project, as it this is a magic formula for good governance.

Money is being made in the annual Paska so SRP, which is good news for the city. But the earnings should be well accounted for and roles of merchants properly defined.

That the City Council is ignorant about the transactions and of any contract between the parties is already a signal that management of the holiday fair grounds is so loose, that no one can explain, or is reluctant to explain, who is earning how much from whom for what.

The fact that the Paska sa SRP is on its third year, and the simple question of accounting is still being kicked around, makes one wonder if the managers care to feel accountable at all.

That’s a situation vulnerable to corruption.

An investigation by auditors and the Ombudsman may be the arms-length probe needed since relations between the mayor’s office and the City Council are near-toxic.

On the other hand, small fry like a canteen worker Messie Torralba in the Capitol are being penalized to the full extent of the law for stealing a few packs of relief goods.

Torralba admitted stealing the goods, something she couldn’t deny for long because security cameras captured her movements on video.

Bigger transactions done by people higher up in the political food chain get away becaue they take place in almost invisible fashion.

We can trumpet cases like the canteen worker to show zero tolerance for corruption.

How about the impunity of bigger foxes?