Thursday, March 08, 2007 Espinoza: Administration bets’ advantage By Elias L. Espinoza Free Zone
REPORTS in the local papers the other day revealed that the controversial decorative streetlights installed along a portion of the Asean summit “ceremonial route” in Mandaue City cost more than double those installed in Cebu City.
I understand that all government purchases and projects undergo post audit by the Commission on Audit. I therefore hope that this constitutional body will perform its mandated function and reveal to us the truth about these purchases.
In the meantime, Acting Deputy Ombudsman Virgie Santiago has ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to stop the payment of the balance for the purchase of the lamps.
In a preliminary conference of the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas, DPWH 7 Assistant Regional Director Marlina Alvizo said the decorative lamp posts in Mandaue cost P224,000 each. She also said the program of works, which was allegedly used as basis of the purchase, was prepared by Mandaue City.
But Mandaue City Administrator Serafin Blanco, in a text message, said the city had no participation in the deal. He noted that it was the DPWH that procured the lamp posts and that these streetlights are still the agency’s properties because these have not been turned over yet to the city government.
I say that all these suspicions that somebody made money from the allegedly overpriced purchases will be resolved once COA conducts an honest-to-goodness post audit. COA should then make public its report because the people have the right to know.
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The administration coalition is considered the superior force in the May elections. This is perhaps the reason why Gov. Gwen Garcia, who founded the One Cebu Party, affiliated her group with Kampi, President Arroyo’s party.
Many of those who were once affiliated or who once belonged to Lakas-CMD are now with Kampi. Meaning, they have jumped to the President’s party. “When money talks everybody listens,” my friend would say.
Governor Garcia broke her promise not to coalesce or align with any national political party. But who can say no to an invitation by a person who holds the political purse?
Although midterm elections do not involve the post of president, the present exercise is fast shaping up to be a battle between President Arroyo and former president Erap Estrada. If so, this confirms talks that the President is bankrolling the campaign of administration bets. Funds from Malacañang allegedly flow even to the barangay captain level.
The President has every reason to make sure her congressmen and senators are elected. If the opposition gets the majority, her presidency will be jeopardized. But the opposition should realize that it cannot defeat a superior force, which in this case is the Arroyo administration, unless the latter stumbles or shoots itself on the foot.
Opposition candidates, who are leading in the surveys because of their anti-Gloria line, should know how to keep their lead and convert this into votes on May 14. They must realize that the possibility that all of the administration bets for the Senate and Congress will win is not remote.
The opposition should understand that the administration has an enormous amount of money to support its candidates.
