PNoy’s men and women; Gano captures Morges

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

March L. Fianza

In the eyes of an itinerant rooster, the issue on the “pork barrel” or what is called Priority Development Assistance Fund in this country has gone “OB” or over the bakod. Its investigation was first welcomed as an update of an unlisted set of activities that PNoy could do in his “matuwid na daan” administration after some quarters noticed that there was no substantial action that was being executed in the fight against corruption.

But as it looks now, the pork barrel disclosure by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and Commission on Audit (COA) on how it was pocketed or used by lawmakers (not all) has instead launched a more serious problem that has worried the President – that he has more money from many sources that he can disburse anyway he wants to, and that this has to be stopped too.

Stealing pork barrel funds which is the main topic is about to be lost in the discussions as it switches from the PDAF to the Disbursement Acceleration Program or DAP. PNoy’s political enemies say the implementation of the latter is portrayed as akin to technical malversation, so that corruption is also in the executive level.

For this reason, the President had to make an appearance on national TV last week, explaining to his “bosses” that the issue here is the act of pocketing people’s money through fake NGOs and that those involved were mixing up the issue as their counteraction by coming up with stories about how the President’s own pork barrel is spent.

As an effect by the counterattack launched by PNoy’s political enemies, private individuals from all walks have bonded on Facebook and Twitter, and have agreed to scrap the PDAF even while it has been useful to 93 per cent of all congressional districts. Even militant NGOs are back to their “livelihood” of holding street rallies alongside partylist congressmen who do not actually represent a solid constituency who have joined the fray, most of them muddling the issue more than shedding light on it.

But even with all of these, PNoy said that what is clear is that he did not steal. “Hindi akomagnanakaw,” he declared. His critics answered back: “We are not saying that you stole people’s money, but clean the disbursement process so that you will not be accused of being part of the corruption.” I can see a possible outcome. If PNoy’s men are not careful, the tables may turn and he will end up answering corruption questions, maybe an impeachment case. He may even be thrown in jail or be under “house arrest” along with GMA, then the real money stealers can go free.

“Behind the success of a man is a woman.” I doubt now if that old saying still applies to the women and men involved in the pork barrel scam. One, PNoy has no woman who can be “blamed” for his victories and lapses. Secondly, at least five women could be held liable for making the lives of a good number of PDAF pocketeers miserable. The women are Justice Sec. Leila De Lima, lawyer Lorna Kapunan, pork barrel queen Janet Lim Napoles, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales and COA chief Maria Gracia Pulido Tan.

These women have stopped the world of some politicians from turning. The papers have informed us about the roles of these ladies in relation to the issue at hand. But one thing that has bothered me is why or how were the pork barrel funds released by DBM’s Butch Abad and why the money releases were able to stay away from the sharp and watchful eyes of COA’s Pulido-Tan. In its mandate, the COA has the power and authority to examine and audit the expenditures and uses of government funds; and in cases where the internal control system of the audited agencies is inadequate, COA may adopt special audit procedures to correct deficiencies.

In addition, it is supposed to prevent and disallow expenditures of government money that is irregular, unnecessary, excessive and extravagant; and recommend measures to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of government operations. In the case of the billions of errant pork barrel funds that went through fake NGOs of Napoles, how come the audit teams failed to “stop” them or “unnoticed” them?

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Ifugao sculptor Gilbert Bergano Alberto or Gilbert Gano to his friends recently won the two top prizes in the 10th International Sculpture Symposium held a few months ago in Morges, Geneva. The 45-year old Gilbert of Hapao, Hungduan, Ifugao grabbed the Silver Award and the Prix du Public (Audience Choice Award) from 30 other artists representing around 20 countries who were invited to showcase their talents at the annual stone sculpture competition.

Gilbert won the Silver Award for his sculpture he called “A sitting old Igorot man playing a gong.” According to him, all participants did their carvings on a uniform-sized block of limestone weighing around 300 kilos at the Morges Castle gardens along the Geneva Lake. They were given eight days to finish their work.

If you have the time, visit some of Gilbert’s sculptures at the Camp John Hay Manor that opened last week and will run until January 2014. His works are displayed along with the sculptures of his cousin Billy Gano and Edwin Acop, two of his latest student-apprentices. Acop is the first Ibaloi sculpture that has been given the opportunity to display his works in public. – ozram.666@gmail.com