Delos Santos: Survey credibility

(4th column)

THE Inquirer’s slip is showing when it emphasized the fact that the latest SWS survey showing Manny Villar cutting into Aquino lead was commissioned by a known Villar ally, San Juan Representative Ronaldo Zamora. Maybe, it’s about time we ask: And who commissioned the earlier surveys showing Aquino leading consistently? The survey was allegedly released to Senate reporters by Villar’s office. And which office released those earlier surveys? If the SWS released them on its own, why didn’t it similarly release the one showing Villar leading, also on its own?

In fact, SWS may not have realized it, but it is impugning its own surveys. By emphasizing Zamora’s commissioning the survey, it is in effect saying that its latest survey is tainted with bias because it was commissioned by a Villar ally. Ergo, SWS surveys, regardless of its claim non-partisanship, can be made to suit the wishes of the survey sponsor? So, how sure are we now that those earlier surveys showing Aquino in the lead were not similarly influenced by an unnamed sponsor whom the Inquirer and the SWS kept us from knowing in their naked drive to catapult Aquino to the presidency?

And Aquino, who is being advertised as a paragon of integrity, said that he unfazed by Villar’s surge since the latter’s gain was not at his expense. He is of course referring to an earlier survey where he led Villar by as much as 19 percent, down to 11 percent in the latest survey. He did not bother to mention the fact that his ratings indeed went down from 46 percent in early December to 44 percent in the year-end survey. Two percentage points maybe insignificant, but the latest survey is up by six percent from his 27 percent previous rating. A six percent rise in just two weeks is significant, considering that the increase came from Aquino himself and the other marginal presidentiables, whose already low ratings suffered worse from Villar’s inroads.

Only 11 percent separates Aquino and Villar, and considering his rapid rise and Aquino’s slight decline, it is not farfetched for Villar to match Aquino’s rating in the next couple of weeks and overtake him in the homestretch.

So, the frightening prospect of an Aquino presidency may not happen at all.

Secretary to the Mayor Vicente Petierre is missing the point completely when he claimed the P4.9 million spent by the city to construct the perimeter road at the Bacolod City Hall, pompously called by Leonardia as the Bacolod City New Government Center did not go to the pockets of our city officials. But of course! The point is that the perimeter road should have been built by Hilmarcs Construction, as called for by its contract. The city’s assuming its cost saved for Hilmarcs P4.9 million. How only a simpleton would believe that this “savings” went to Hilmarcs alone, with nothing for the city officials who make such “savings” possible.

If money went into private pockets, certainly it is not the P4.9 million appropriated by the city but from this P4.9 million “savings”. Petierre says COA did not say the city officials who appropriated the 4.9 million pocketed the amount. Of course. They pocketed the “savings” instead.

Petierre further claims that a notice of disallowance is “normal”. My goodness! What is normal, or should be, is when COA’s audit shows nothing wrong with the expenditure. When COA finds something wrong with it, then that is not what’s normal. It is abnormal!

Or has Petierre confused his grammar?

Petierre stresses the fact that no “one from the City Government took advantage of the money since this was paid as salaries and wages of the workers…..” If he is referring to the P4.9 million appropriations to cover the cost of the perimeter road construction, yes, of course. But how about the “savings” that would have spared the city the expense? Who took advantage of that?

Petierre now says that if the COA findings on the perimeter road are correct, all that’s needed is to inform Hilmarcks of the matter and collect the amount of P4.9 million spent by the city for it.

That simple? And will Hilmarcks pay what it obviously already paid?

In fact, COA is barking at the wrong tree when it issued notice of disallowances, not only to Leonardia but also to those officials who signed the payrolls that were charged to the 4.9 million appropriations.

If COA were not in cahoots with Leonardia, it is stupid of it to issue the disallowance to the signatories of the payrolls and vouchers drawn out of this P4.9 million. All these payrolls and vouchers were in order. P4.9 million was appropriated for the perimeter road and these payrolls and vouchers were charged to this account. The payment was authorized by Leonardia. How would these subordinate officials to know that Hilmarcks rather than the city should shoulder the cost? And even if they knew, who are they to question Leonardia’s and the Sanggunian’s authority?

Instead of these subordinate officials, the COA should have addressed the disallowance to Leonardia and the Sanggunian.

Why?

The Sanggunian is well aware of the terms of the contract with Hilmarcks. They discussed it in detail. They authorized Leonardia to sign it. They ratified it. So, why did they appropriate P4.9 million for the construction of the perimeter road, knowing fully-well that the expense is the obligation of Hilmarcks? Why didn’t they put a rider to the appropriation ordinance stating that Hilmarcks must refund it?

Are our councilors good only at taking ladies of the night to motels and getting commissions from City Government transactions?

This is why I believe that the Sanggunian members are equally liable for this brazen hold-up of Bacolod’s finances. They not only participated in a transaction prejudicial to the government, they also have obviously benefited from it. Ergo, they are tailor-made for the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Rather than run after innocent subordinate officials who do not have any liability over this “double payment”, COA should nail down those who dipped their fingers into the cookie jar.

This way, COA will disabuse us of the suspicion that it is in cahoots with City Hall.