The nation is angry; who isn’t?

ON DISTANT SHORE
By Val G. Abelgas

COA Chief Ma. Gracia Pulido-Tan

“Kahindik-hindik” (horrifying).

That was how Commission on Audit Chairman Ma. Gracia Pulido-Tan described the anomalies involving the misuse of billions of pesos in funds coming from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or simply the pork barrel. Perhaps a better word would be “nakakasuka” (makes one vomit).

The COA special audit report all but confirmed the series of articles published by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Rappler.com, and the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism based mostly on the testimonies of whistleblower Benhur Luy, a former assistant of businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles, who has been accused of funneling billions of pork barrel funds to several non-existent or suspicious non-governmental organizations (NGOs) registered under he name or those of her relatives and acquaintances.

Janet Lim Napoles

The COA report said at least 12 senators and around 180 congressmen, through the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), funneled P6.156 billion in pork barrel funds to 82 questionable non-government organizations (NGOs) from 2007 to 2009, 10 of which had links to Napoles, while six had links to sponsoring lawmakers through relatives.

This should explain why despite sizzling reports about the anomalous pork barrel transactions, neither the House of Representatives or the Senate would touch the issue with the proverbial ten-foot pole. The House said it would not conduct a hearing on the allegations and that it would leave it to the National Bureau of Investigation to finish its investigation.

The NBI has been very quiet about its investigation and the Department of Justice, obviously under pressure to somehow act on the scandal, ordered the arrest of Napoles and her brother Reynald Lim, not for the anomalous transactions, but for the illegal detention of the whistleblower Luy.

Nonetheless, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima deserves to be commended for asking the court to issue the arrest order, the freezing of their bank accounts and other assets, and the scrapping of their passports. Napoles remains at large as of this writing.

The senators, congressmen and other government officials directly involved in the horrendous anomalies must be shaking in their boots.

The COA chief expressly cited the involvement of the Department of Budget and Management, saying that the DBM has failed to keep proper records and efficiently monitor releases for the lawmakers. State auditors revealed that agencies simply transferred funds for livelihood projects to non-government organizations, including those allegedly managed by Napoles, on the mere say-so of legislators.

“The projects were found to be grossly deficient in many ways, casting doubt on whether they were carried at all, much more in the magnitude claimed by the NGOs, many of which were found to be of dubious existence,” the report said.

A day after the COA revelations, not a word was heard from Malacanang nor from both Houses of Congress, perhaps even to just assure us, Aquino’s bosses, that things would henceforth be different under this administration’s “daang matuwid” and that all those found to be involved shall be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

We were waiting for the anger that President Aquino and his allies in Congress demonstrated following revelations that Chief Justice Renato Corona filed a not-so-honest statement of assets and liabilities (SALN), which would pale in comparison to the magnitude of the current pork barrel scandal. Instead, there was silence, a deafening silence.

If the following allegations and COA findings – just a few of many other claims by the whistleblowers — do not anger you, then you’d blend well in the corrupt bureaucracy and political system that have run the Philippine government for decades:

• At least 12 senators and around 180 congressmen, obviously in cahoots with DBM insiders, funneled P6.156 billion in pork barrel funds to 82 questionable non-government organizations (NGOs) from 2007 to 2009.

• Of the total amount of public funds placed under special audit, at least P2.157 billion were traced to have been funneled to 10 NGOs linked to Napoles.

• Even a non-legislator or a “ghost” lawmaker was able to access P20 million, referring to a certain Rep. Luis Abalos who was able to pinpoint where the amount should be spent.

• Over P4 billion in funds were released by the DBM for projects outside the legislative districts of sponsoring congressmen. Former Rep. Manuel Zamora of Compostela Valley took P3 billion — well in excess of his P70-million pork barrel allocation — to fund infrastructure projects in various parts of the country.

• NGOs identified by solons reportedly gave addresses that are non-existent or are in squatter areas that turned out to be residences of their alleged officials.

• One of the NGOs, the ITO NA Movement Foundation Inc. (ITONAMI) used 1,090 names from published lists of passers in the CPA Board Exam in October 2007; 620 names from the Bar Exams and Nursing Board Exams in 2008 as supposed beneficiaries for pork barrel-funded ghost projects.

• Ninety-seven mayors of cities and towns in Luzon ravaged by Tropical Storm “Ondoy” and Typhoon “Pepeng” in 2009 supposedly received P900 million in Malampaya gas funds through bogus NGOs allegedly formed by Napoles. The mayors said their signatures were forged and that they did not get any money from the NGOs.

• Around P123 million of funds were used to pay salaries of workers in the NGOs, many of whom were friends and relatives of Napoles.

• Between Nov. 7, 2006, and Feb. 5, 2007—shortly after Arthur C. Yap took over as secretary of agriculture—letters signed by 44 mayors addressed to Yap requesting funds for their agricultural enhancement programs landed in the hands of Napoles, also according to the Inquirer. A former JLN employee later said he copied the letters and used photocopied letterheads to request for funds, P5 million each, allegedly for the “most deserving farmers” in their respective towns. The funds were allegedly funneled to NGOs linked to Napoles.

• Napoles, according to an Inquirer report, owns at least 28 homes and condo units in Metro Manila, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas and other parts of Luzon, ranging from her long-time home in Biñan, Laguna province, to a house in Ayala Alabang Village in Muntinlupa City, one house each in Forbes Park and in Dasmariñas Village in Makati City, units in Serendra and Pacific Plaza Towers in Bonifacio Global City and in Eastwood City in Quezon City, and houses in Tagaytay Highlands and Punta Fuego in Nasugbu.

• At least 30 vehicles, including luxury brands BMW, Hummer, Porsche, Lincoln and Mercedes Benz, are registered in the name of Napoles, her NGOs, and close relatives.

• Most of the questionable pork barrel disbursements were made without bidding or after dubious bidding procedures.

• There are 344 bank accounts and 65 insurance policies under the name of Napoles or NGOs traceable to her.

The Napoles and the pork barrel controversy would define the sincerity of Aquino’s much-vaunted campaign to curb corruption. Will his administration pursue the investigation and prosecution of Napoles and all her accomplices, including the President’s allies in Congress and the Cabinet? Will reforms be made in the procurement and release of government funds immediately as recommended by the COA chief? Will the pork barrel funds be finally abolished as demanded by various sectors of the country?

The nation awaits answers.

(valabelgas@aol.com)