Lim warns grafters at DILG

Interior and Local Government Secretary Alfredo Lim warned officials and employees of his department yesterday to stay away from graft and corruption or risk getting sacked.

In his first move against erring local officials, Lim suspended Kalinga Gov. Dominador Belac for six months for the purchase of a luxury vehicle using falsified documents.

"Everybody must be treated equally because nobody is above the law," Lim told reporters.

At his first press conference since assuming the top post at the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Lim made it clear anew that "the law applies to everyone, otherwise, to no one at all."

The 70-year-old Lim, who took over from the recently designated ambassador to the United Nations Ronaldo Puno, specifically cited the area of equipment purchases as one which may need close scrutiny.

Lim said all future contracts entered into by the department will be so transparent that "even the man on the street shall have open access to documents pertaining to such."

Lim was joined at his maiden press briefing at the DILG main office in Quezon City by Undersecretary Narciso Santiago Jr., who echoed the pronouncements of his boss.

Santiago said he looks forward to forging a good working relationship with Lim.

"I think we're going to be a great team," said the undersecretary for local government, who had often clashed with Lim's predecessor.

Santiago called on all those connected with the department to heed Lim's warning or face the consequence of their misbehavior.

Lim said the suspension order against Belac was approved by President Estrada through Administrative Order No. 102 issued last Dec. 16.

The order was transmitted to the department which conducted the investigation on the case only last Friday, Lim explained.

He directed Vice Gov. Jocel Batas to temporarily take over the post vacated by the governor, whose suspension was recommended by Santiago.

On July 6, 1998, Belac's office acquired a 1998 Nissan Patrol worth P1.5 million, with a down payment of P600,000 and the balance payable in six months at P165,000 per month.

However, DILG officials found out that the purchase did not have any approval from the provincial board nor was there any appropriate fund allocation as required by the Local Government Code. Probers said the governor made it appear that there was money set aside to buy the luxury vehicle.

"The irregular purchase was consummated with the use of falsified documents in violation of the prescribed rules," Lim said. "He (Belac) acted in bad faith and must be punished."

Lim also vowed to rid his department of "excess baggage," starting with the 80-member Response to Emergency and Anti-Crime Task Force (REACT) maintained by his predecessors.

He said there was no need to keep the unit, what with Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Deputy Director Panfilo Lacson around.

"I have no plans of maintaining it or forming a new one," he said.

Meanwhile, the city council of Manila has unanimously passed a resolution strongly supporting the appointment of the former Manila mayor as DILG chief.

"We at the council are proud of him. He is a Manileño and does the city proud," said Councilor Kim Atienza, a son of Mayor Lito Atienza. "We wish Secretary Lim all the best, and we will support his fight against crime and corruption." --