Saturday, March 03, 2007 Mapiles: Kapampangan revolt (Part 2) By Joel P. Mapiles View from the Bottom
IN THE beginning, charges of "graft and corruption hurled against Senator Lito Lapid and his son, Governor Mark Lapid were only heard by the kapampangans during municipal consultative assemblies spearheaded by the 12 mayors for the past three months.
Hence, the Lapids have once challenged their accusers, particularly Vice Governor Yeng Guiao to produce substantive evidence that can stand in court as the younger Lapid said in his media interview that he would only answer these allegations of large scale and rampant corruptions dragged against them at the proper forum.
Oyni na! Yesterday, the Lapids' fervent prayer and wishes were answered, Vice Governor Yeng Guiao formally filed five criminal and administrative complaints against Senator Lito Lapid and his son Mark, and 23 officials and employees of the Provincial Capitol, some district engineers of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Pampanga and some private contractors allegedly involved in the alleged double-funded ghost projects and deliveries.
Allegedly, these infra-projects amounting to more than P11 million worth were allegedly completed. These include the Improvements of Concepcion Farm to Market in San Simon; Provision of aggregate base coarse for the improvement of Tabuyuk-Balucuc Barangay Road in Apalit; Improvement of La Paz, Sto Rosario barangay road in Magalang; Improvement of Mandili Farm to Market Road and Improvement of Lourdes farm to market road, both in Candaba. However, based on the complaints, these are only completed in paper but non-existing as per site inspection.
Yeng noted that he has led this noble act of filing cases against the Lapids to prove that he and the seventeen mayors are not doing a so-called forum shopping.
He added through the filing of these cases at the Office of the Ombudsman, he is doing justice for the kapampangans and at the same time giving the Lapids the proper forum and the due process where the governor and the senator could be given ample time to explain the apparently gray side of their leadership.
Yeng also said his office and the majority mayors only shows that they really meant business to clean the capitol from the apparently "garbage leadership" and give light of hope for this province which, they said, is now being purportedly 'abused' 'raped' and 'devastated' for several years now.
Allegedly, based on the filed 28 volumes of complaints, these ghost projects were given "Double Funding and Payment Scheme" which were paid twice from the 20% Development Fund of the Province and from the Priority Development Assistance Fund of the senator.
Based on the actual inspections and original documents, Guiao has specifically charged the Lapids and their cohorts with Fraud Against the Public Treasury; Malversation of public funds; Violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act 3019,as amended) and Violation of Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (Republic Act 6713).
The complaint purported that the senator, the governor and their cohorts conspired and helped one another in defrauding the government the total sum of P11,474, 023 involving the alleged ghost infrastructure projects in five different barangays in the Province.
Worst, it says, the projects were allegedly either not undertaken or not completed.
For me, as public officials who vowed to serve the kapampangans, they are accountable and legally obliged to answer these complaints point by point.
However, it is not advisable on the camp of the Lapids to make an alibi that these complaints are 'politically motivated.' Because whatever the motivation that pushed the complainants to file these cases, the Lapids and other respondents have the legal and moral responsibilities to shed light on the public matters.
The only question at hand which they have to answer is this, "Totoo o hindi? Kung hindi totoo, may pruweba ba kayo? Patunayan ninyo punto por punto para maniwala ang publiko. Kung totoo, walang masama sa pag-amin at pagsasabi ng tapat sa tao."
I suggest that the Lapids should properly document their alleged ghost projects and ask the barangay officials to make a certification that the projects were completed and existing. "Ang problema lang ninyo, mismong mga kapitan ang nagpatunay na walang nanggaling na proyekto mula kay Senator at sa kapitolyo at kung mayroon man, dalawampung trak na lupang pangtambak lang ang naideliber. Ang masakit, siningil daw ninyo ng P2 milyong piso mula sa pondo ng Senador at kapitolyo ang bawat nawawalang proyekto.
Sometimes, telling the truth really hurts. However, all who have the injuries deserve to explain the pains and heal the wounds. If they keep silence and stay mum on the issue, it's up to them. But it's up to the electorate to contemplate and examine their minds before choosing them anew.
Anyway, these are the political realities they have to face as the Kapampangan revolt continues.
If you have any comments, you can email the author at joeley01 or text him at 0921-519-92-23
