Nepotism plagues GMA anti-graft commission

Here’s a tip for new BIR Commissioner Joel Tan-Torres on how to raise tax collections. Look into the operations of registers of deeds (RDs), especially in rich cities. Find out if they’re ensuring payment of right real estate taxes, or pocketing the bulk by false declaration. It’s a big racket, and land registrants being coerced to comply.

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The Presidential Anti-Graft Commission is an elite Malacañang unit. Its job is to keep Palace appointees on the straight and narrow path of decent public service. But the agency reeks with one of the basest forms of corruption: nepotism. Consider these abusive, inappropriate and illegal acts (most identities are in initials, to give them a chance to clean up their mess):

The PAGC chair is Constancia Posadas de Guzman. Her son Reindl Kaizer de Guzman is her Executive Assistant. That’s alright; public officials are allowed to hire a relative for a confidential position. But it gets knotty. Reindl’s wife to be, Atty. K1, though a neophyte lawyer, is the office’s Executive Director, its highest staffer. And Atty. K1’s only sibling, K2, soon to become Reindl’s sister-in-law, was hired as Graft Prevention & Control Officer-III, serving as De Guzman’s private secretary.

The PAGC Code of Conduct forbids such accommodation. Yet to suit K2, the agency amended the Code on recommendation of the Management Committee. And who would head the ManCom, if not K1? The change didn’t come easy, though. Objections delayed the approval. But the sisters couldn’t wait. K2’s appointment anteceded the amendment.

Maybe De Guzman, with her Master’s and PhD, can wriggle out of that. But how about her appointment of nephew Aries Christian Posadas, son of a sibling, as Technical Assistant? It’s a consultancy that pays P30,000 a month. Doesn’t the law forbid that? Posadas was hired inexperienced straight out of law school, and reportedly has since flunked the Bar exam twice.

The Director of the Investigation Office, Atty. J3, is the best friend of K1, De Guzman’s soon to be daughter-in-law. The position requires at least three years management experience, but Atty. J3 got it without such record. She rose above longer-serving PAGC lawyers, whom De Guzman perhaps didn’t like. Atty. J3 also worked on the promotion of law student-boyfriend T4, from casual to permanent employee. Again, other full-fledged lawyers are still temporary.

Another Investigation Office staffer, L5, was also inexperienced and had just flunked the Bar exam when hired. But her closeness to K1 earned her the position of Graft Investigation Officer-II, reserved only for lawyers or certified public accountants. Many qualified and experienced personnel were left behind, because at the PAGC it’s not what but whom you know. Word is that L5’s former superior had recommended that her temporary employment no longer be renewed. That senior has since left the agency in disgust with its unprofessional ways.

The Director of the Prevention and Education Office, P6, is the son of De Guzman’s bosom friend. P6’s promotion took most PAGC staffers by surprise. They know his incapability too well, and his past work never had anything to do with the PEO. Even De Guzman reportedly was forced to concede at one point that P6 is unqualified and so probationary. But he has been in the prime post longer than the usual trial period.

A staffer at the PEO is J7, goddaughter of De Guzman. She was made permanent to increase her pay and perks. PAGC Administrative Officer, D8, is a loyal aide of De Guzman since their days at the Dept. of Social Welfare and Development. She is past the prescribed government working age, and had in fact already retired from the DSWD. The Accountant and Cashier are, allegedly on De Guzman’s instructions, D8’s personal picks. PAGC staffers ask why this has to be if there are no planned shenanigans. They also wonder why De Guzman unnecessarily brings the Admin Officer along in her many foreign and domestic travels, especially if to D8’s home province.

“A public office is a public trust,” De Guzman intones in her frequent junkets. “We must walk the talk; no whitewash, no sacred cows, no cover-ups.” But under her watch the PAGC has transformed into a family agency. A quick look at recent promotions to permanent position will show kinship or friendship ties to the chief. Already the mess has caused several PAGC resignations, and uneasiness at the supervising Office of the Executive Secretary.

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Contrary to Malacañang claims, an IBON survey shows Pampangos disfavoring Gloria Arroyo’s reported congressional run. Asked if they were aware of reports of Arroyo’s 2nd-district plan, 76.5 percent of her province mates said yes. But only 16.9 percent approved of it.

Nationwide, 61 percent of 1,496 respondents were aware of the plan; of that number 85.8 percent disapproved.

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Sigma Kappa Pi third “Lakbay Balangay” to be held in Pampanga on Saturday, Nov. 14. Founders Doty Abaya, Mindo David and Jack Gan to head the visit with EKIT Alumni Foundation president Freddie Sarangaya (0920-9088001). To be followed by celebration of provincial Chapter Day, at Grills and Grinds Restaurant, Bagumbayan, Angeles City, organized by Delfin Gan (0928-6003580).

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“While we take time to care for our body, time itself will wreck it. Take time out to ponder over this before you run out of time. Time waits for no one, yet everyone has to wait on time.” Shafts of Light, Fr. Guido Arguelles, SJ

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