|
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Espinoza: Fighting graft and corruption
By Elias L. Espinoza
The P1 billion that President Arroyo ordered released by the Department of Budget is too big an amount just to fight graft and corruption in government. Corrupt government officials and employees must be drooling now over this huge budget.
Many people chuckled in disbelief over this. But they were one in welcoming the President’s vow to fight graft and corruption in government.
The nastiest reaction I heard said that the money will only provide more opportunities for crooks in government to steal. Then there’s the suspicion the money would be given to local government units to fund Charter change moves, which is unlikely because the money is the government’s counterpart to the $20.685-million grant of the United States under its Millennium Challenge Account.
First in the list of government agencies targeted in the drive are the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). With all due respect to the conscientious employees of these two offices, the BOC and the BIR are among those believed to be graft-ridden.
Graft and corruption in government is so widespread it can be found from the top to the bottom of the bureaucracy. If this goes unchecked, then we’re headed to perdition.
Let’s give the Arroyo administration the benefit of the doubt. The money should be used where it is needed, and we should help monitor the spending.
It should not be used to run after Arroyo’s political opponents or lure the opposition to the administration’s fold.
They should really go after corrupt government officials and employees, as well as smugglers and tax cheats.
***
“Mora man tag Garcillano ani,” said Customs Collector Purita Parohinog when interviewed by members of the Cebu press after her appearance before the Provincial Board.
Parohinog was partly right. Why would the Board members or the presiding officer grill her when they are not the appointing authority? The Board only wasted precious time and resources in inviting Parohinog to appear in the regular session.
Congress’ practice of directing government officials and employees to appear before it and answer questions even on inconsequential issues must be so contagious the Board got afflicted by it.
The Board should have tackled issues beneficial to its constituents rather than those that are not within its authority to resolve. As a fellow lawyer said, what the Board did was a display of a nauseating arrogance. Or, was it ignorance?
***
Although my wife does not belong Batch 81 of the Gullas College of Medicine because she graduated in 1984, she asked me (how could I say no) to mention their reunion on July 14-16, 2006. Their theme: “25 Years Looking Back, Moving Forward.” For details, call Virgie at tel. no. 346-4224.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (June 22, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
