EDITORIAL - Noynoy's check should prompt lifestyle checks

The front page photo of this paper last Thursday was that of President Aquino showing off his very first pay check as president of the republic. The amount on the check was P63,002.17 representing his net monthly pay after deductions. His gross monthly pay is P95,000.

There are as many significances to be woven into that photograph as there are people who care to make their own interpretations. As it was, however, it was the first time a great many people ever got to be aware of how much a president really makes.

People were amazed that, all things considered, the amount is not really much. Far more people get far bigger salaries than the president. The president, however, does not really need to touch a centavo of his pay. Allowances and perks can take care of his needs while in office.

But the truly amazing thing is that, if P63,000 a month is all that the president of the republic makes after deductions, how much must be left of the salaries of much lower officials in government after deductions?

It is truly amazing because, for officials who have far less pay than the P63,000 of the president, they seem to live lifestyles that suggest incomes that are two or three or even five times that of the president. And they do not even have his discretionary allowances and perks.

The real significance of President Aquino showing off his pay check is that he can now use that as a starting point to conduct lifestyle checks on all lower ranking officials of his government.

With his P63,000 net pay as a guidepost, it should be very clear that many government officials occupying positions way down the salary ladder from the president of the republic just simply could not afford the lifestyles they flaunt about.

With Aquino's pay as basis, it is very clear that government positions pay salaries that are only slightly better than pauper's wages and could not therefore allow most civil employees their flashy luxuries, unless they have extra incomes.

What these extra incomes are is what a lifestyle check should seek to uncover. If it can be found to come from legitimate sources, then at least the air gets to be cleared. But if they cannot be explained, then Aquino must let the axes fall where they may.