A tragicomedy of pork

The alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam that has been hogging (pun intended) the headlines these days has elicited some cynical reactions from the public. As someone asked: “After looking at the names involved in the highly publicized scandal, was anyone surprised?”

But I did have some surprise on my part. I was a bit mystified when Senator Revilla immediately claimed it was a demolition job. Considering that he has joined the majority coalition in the Senate and is therefore allied with the Liberal and Nacionalista parties, while also unofficially being allied with the opposing group composed of UNA and the “macho” bloc, I am very perplexed where the Senator thinks the demolition job is coming from. Moreover, in light of the rumors that he is running for higher office in 2016, I am very impressed that the Senator believes a demolition job of this magnitude, usually reserved for legitimate presidential contenders, was conceived for him.  

The other thing that surprised me was the amount involved. According to reports I read, Senator Revilla, by himself, is allegedly guilty of misusing pork barrel funds totalling P1.017 billion. That’s more than enough to buy, for example, a huge compound of houses. Or I should ask Br.  Armin Luistro how many thousands of classrooms can be constructed for that amount.

If not for the fact that the scam involved tragic misuse of badly needed funds for helping the poor, some of the stories can be described as bordering on comedy. Take the case of Senator Sotto’s alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam. 

According to the report, Senator Sotto used his funds to buy garbage deodorizers to make garbage smell better. He also purchased EMP for an anti-dengue program in the town of Teresa where no such outbreak occurred. Another report says that he gave medicines to Tanay which according to town officials were not requested.  Senator Sotto’s defense is that his staff will not make him sign anything unless they are sure, and that he could guarantee his projects were above board because his staff is always careful about documentation.

Senator Sotto’s blind faith in his staff is highly commendable.  But I wonder if this is the same staff that reportedly prepared an original speech for him which, after he delivered it, turned out to be plagiarized? 

I also did express some surprise to a few friends about the inclusion of the name of Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the scandal. After all, their family reputedly (or should I say allegedly), has excessive finances to fund a presidential campaign and still allow the next generation to maintain the lifestyle they are accustomed to. 

But a friend of mine said he was not surprised, considering the history of the family. I decided not to include his detailed explanation until I have consulted a lawyer. I do not want to risk a libel suit being filed against me for statements coming from other people even though they were willing to have their names published.

This pork barrel scandal is also a classic lesson in serendipity. 

Merlyn Sunas has identified Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary Ophelia Agawin as a conduit for several fake NGOs controlled by Janet Lim-Napoles, accused of using government funds to undertake “ghost” or non-existent farm projects and paying off lawmakers and other government officials. 

Agawin, together with then Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap and Undersecretary Joc Joc Bolante and other officials were charged with the overpricing of the purchase of P432 million worth of fertilizers by Marlene Garcia Esperat. This scam was later linked to a bigger scandal, the P728 million Fertilizer Fund scandal that again involved Napoles and Jocjoc Bolante. 

The graft cases were filed in 2004. In March 24, 2005, gunmen barged into Esperat’s home in Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat and murdered her. In 2008, the Office of Ombudsman Gutierrez dismissed the case for “insufficiency” of evidence. However, when P-Noy appointed Justice Morales as the new Ombudsman, the government filed plunder charges in the Sandiganbayan in November 2011. The cases are now pending in the Second Division which is chaired by Justice Teresita Diaz-Baldos with Associate Justice Oscar Herrerra Jr. and Associate Justice Napoleon Inoturan. 

But the most comical surprise is how even members of Congress freely use the term pork barrel; unless they do not know the origin of the term. The term has its origin in American history. Prior to the American Civil War in the 1860s, slaves in the Southern states of America were traditionally provided with a barrel of salted pork as a reward on holidays. Slaves had to literally fight among themselves to get their share of the handout. By the 1870s, the term was being used in an insulting way to describe derogatory practices of politicians.

However, I confess that I am quite skeptical about moves to abolish PDAF, as the pork barrel is officially called here. In the United States Congress, pork barrel was eliminated but resurfaced in the form of “earmarks.” This refers to a legislative provision that directs approved federal funds to be spent on specific projects. It specifies the location and recipients. Attempts to regulate or control earmarks have failed. However, there are claims that the earmarking process has been reformed. There are similar versions in Germany, Australia, Poland and Czech Republic.

The challenge for the Senate and House leadership is to reform and control the funding process so that it is properly used and that there is complete transparency. In the US, members of Congress must post all their requests on their websites and they must sign a letter, to be posted online, certifying that neither they nor their relatives have any financial interest in the “earmark request.”

The Senate and House Ethics Committees must also actively and seriously fulfill its mission of dealing with all matters that relate to the conduct, rights, privileges, immunities, dignity, INTEGRITY and REPUTATION of its members.

Only through this cleansing process, and with political will and leadership, shall the Senate and House regain the trust and confidence of the Filipino people. 

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Announcement: There will be an alumni homecoming of Viga Academy on August 12 in Viga, Catanduanes.  For more info, please email [email protected].

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Email: [email protected]