Where is the accountability?

I was appalled to read the perks receive by the senators during their 6-year term in office (“No point voting for any senator”). I now fully understand why candidates do what they do in order to get elected, re-elected, and cultivate and nurture a culture of ‘sila-sila’.

Thank you for this eye- opener; I wish more journalists take up this issue. The people have a right to know where their hard earned tax monies go. The people are made to believe that elected senators are doing them a favor by becoming public servants with meager salary of P35,000 monthly. But most (like me) do not know that their salary is just an “icing on the cake” so to speak; nothing compared to the perks they enjoy.

Can I ask where are the journalists and reporters that would dedicate their time and could put pressure on the elected officials by relentlessly exposing the true state of the economy? That the public purse is awash with monies but the monies to finance and build affordable housing, more schools, more hospitals; pay for better health care; pay for higher salaries for public school teachers, fireman, policeman, public nurses and physicians (so they do not need to look for jobs abroad); monies that should be used for the greater good are in the hands of the very few who consider it their God given right to dispense public monies as they seem fit?

How did it happen that a senator’s fixed monthly allowance of P2 million for office rental and supplies, staff salaries and domestic travels are not audited? Why would they get P760,000 monthly allowances for foreign travel whether they fly or not? Why P1 million monthly stipend for each committee chairmanships? Where and how is the P200 million yearly pork barrel disbursed?

Where is the accountability? And where is the outrage?

— AIMEE GONZALES