Espinoza: Public funds not for private use

Thursday, February 23, 2012

EVEN if the prosecution witness, Philippine Airlines (PAL) vice president for sales Enrique Javier, was not allowed to testify in Tuesday’s impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, those who observed the proceedings were told what Javier would have testified about.

The prosecution said Javier’s testimony would delve on the privileges and free travel benefits that Corona and his wife received while the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines (Fasap) case was still pending.

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It was just unfortunate that the prosecution failed to link the purpose of Javier’s testimony to the charge under Article 3 of the Articles of Impeachment. “The very heart of Article 3 is integrity,” Rep. Niel Tupas explained.

But the prosecution’s attempt to prove the motive of the chief justice on the matter of the High Court’s flip-flopping in the Fasap case only irritated Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile, who prevented Javier from testifying.

It is corruption per se for a government official, elected or appointed, to receive or accept special favors and privileges from anyone or any firm like PAL. Do other politicians receive the same favor Corona allegedly received from PAL?

I remember the case of a member of parliament of Queensland, Australia who resigned after an expose that he received privileges and free travels from an Australian airline company. I don’t suppose that would be done by our government officials.

Corona’s camp should not, however, jump with glee over the rejection of Javier’s testimony. In my humble view, the issue of integrity is already covered in the matter of Corona’s non-disclosure in his statement of assets and liabilities (SALN) of his millions of pesos in the bank.

On the other hand, the reactions in Monday’s trial of Sens. Joker Arroyo, Bongbong Marcos and Jinggoy Estrada regarding the claim that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) accessed Corona’s accounts were droll.

While these senators did not appear scared, their reactions somehow denoted that they themselves may have sizeable undeclared money in the bank that BSP and AMLC can, at any time, look into even without their knowledge or consent.
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Cebu in general and Cebu City in particular were abuzz with the news that Blessed Pedro Calungsod will soon be a saint. He will be canonized at the Vatican on Oct. 21, 2011 as San Pedro de Cebu.

The Catholic faithful are grateful for the efforts of Cardinal Ricardo Vidal, who worked for the canonization of Calungsod, a martyr of his faith. Calungsod was an 18-year-old youth from Ginatilan, Cebu.

Calungsod and the Spanish Jesuit missionary, Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores, were killed in Guam in 1672 when they baptized a native.

Perhaps, it would be good for the impeachment prosecutors to seek aid and guidance from the new saint on how to properly and successfully prosecute Chief Justice Corona for amassing wealth in so short a time.

Cebu’s local government officials were so overjoyed by Calungsod’s sainthood that they announced that they would provide funds. They later backtracked when they realized they couldn’t use public funds for a private purpose.

Besides, under the doctrine on the separation of the church and state, the latter cannot give aid to the church. Non-Catholics can also question any government’s donation for Calungsod’s sainthood.

The organizer of the canonization of Calungsod needs P40 million or more. The amount is not a joke. But as the saying goes “if there is a will, there is a way.” I am pretty sure they could get this amount before October.

(elespinoza53@yahoo.com)