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Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Central Visayas listed as 2nd in graft
CEBU CITY -- Cebu, together with Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor, has the second highest incidence of corruption in the country, according to records at the Sandiganbayan.
A total of 3,313 criminal cases filed before the anti-graft court from 1979 to 2008 came from Central Visayas, according to a report by abs-cbnnews.com. The figures for the region are higher than Central Luzon or Region 3 with 2,154 and Southern Tagalog or Region 4, with 2,935.
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The National Capital Region (NCR), composed of the cities within Metro Manila, posted the highest figures with 6,841 criminal cases.
Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol, in an interview over radio dyLA, disputed the report, saying that in 2008 alone, only a few cases were filed against public officials.
Apostol said the only case from Central Visayas that was elevated to the anti-graft court was the one involving the purchase of alleged overpriced lampposts used during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in 2007.
"Halos walang kaso ang na-i-file sa 2008," Apostol said.
He said it is possible that cases that have been resolved in their level are still awaiting action from the central office.
He added that it was likely that the Sandiganbayan used records from the previous years in coming up with the report.
"Mali 'yan...hindi maganda ang report na iyan. Gagawa ako ng report (when office resumes on January 5) dahil hindi totoo 'yan. Napakaganda ng record natin dito sa Visayas," he said.
Apostol also said that among the anti-graft offices all over the country, the one in Central Visayas is considered the best performer.
"Kasi intensive ang ating campaign. Nakikipag-ugnayan na tayo sa media," he said.
An Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas official, who asked not to be named, said the figures, while reflective of actual incidents of corruption within the region, don't actually mean that corruption is more prevalent here than anywhere else.
"Perhaps the anti-graft efforts of agencies and other public officials here are more effective than the measures being undertaken by others," the source said.
Also, the source said, people in Cebu are more aware and when a person notices an incident of corruption, an actual complaint or a request for assistance is almost always filed.
"So it is only logical that the figures coming from the region will be high," the official said.
Malversation of public funds is the most recurring criminal incident at the Sandiganbayan.
Of the total number of cases filed before the Sandiganbayan for the period, 9,237 cases, or 31.48 percent, were on malversation.
Violations of the anti-graft and corrupt practices act account for the second most prevalent incidents, at 6,296. Falsification of public documents compose the third at 5,480 incidents or 18.67 percent. (KNR/Sun.Star Cebu)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Baguio. (December 30, 2008 issue)
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