Silliman U president proposal citizen's initiative to review gov't funds disbursements

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — A citizens' initiative shall be created to "review and express opinions on the validity of itemizations and disbursements of government funds set aside for contingencies, calamities or emergencies."

This was the proposal of Silliman University president, Dr. Ben Malayang III, as he assailed the abuse of pork barrel that he described as having "de facto eroded the legitimacy of government to a low that makes it dangerously brittle."

Malayang said the citizens' initiative may be undertaken to create a temporary National Conscience Council of Seven, which shall exercise overriding powers over disbursements of government funds and may defer or suspend a disbursement while the investigation and review of pork barrel is being done.

In a statement released to the media, Malayang suggested former Chief Justice Renato Puno, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, former Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Solita Monsod, former Senator Rene Saguisag, Washington Sycip, Letty Magsanoc and Marites Danguilan-Vitug to comprise the proposed council.

Malayang said he shared the "anger of all Filipinos (who) see their money pilfered and looted. Done, without decency and conscience, by very high officials of our land."

He said many Filipinos pay taxes to government hoping that it will work for the welfare and well-being of all. "But it seems that these may have been robbed by leaders on whose shoulders the people had reposed confidence that they will serve the interest of our nation. ... it would seem that electoral confidence had been shamelessly abused and turned into personal fortunes, and those insisting to be called 'honorable' had dishonored the people who gave them the right to be called so."

Malayang said "public office has become a travesty, a den of thievery. ... The privilege to serve had been turned into a privilege to bleed those to be served."

This abuse must be stopped, and the people must "condemn the wanton pilferage of our national coffers and the shameless rape of our national dignity," said Malayang, even as he urged Filipinos to be sober amid "rising national disgust over pork barrel," but with "determined action against it, not a countenance of its continuity."

Malayang said the pork barrel "must be scrapped now, not re-invented. Not cloaked. It must be scrapped, absolutely, not because it is politically expedient, but simply because it is indecent."

Other proposals of the SU president were: 1) the Ombudsman shall designate a special attorney, clothed with full constitutional powers, to investigate the pork barrel system and its abuses, and file charges against all found involved;

2) Existing laws criminalizing legislators' actions to influence agencies' allocations and disbursements of funds be forcefully and uncompromisingly enforced;

3) All provisions in the National Budget, and budgets of agencies and government units be fully itemized and disbursements of the same strictly comply with the Procurement Law;

4) Ombudsman be required to automatically and immediately act on COA findings on misuses of public funds;

5) Any person, elected or appointed, found prima facie of abusing public funds be immediately suspended from public office; and

6) The Police, Ombudsman and the Courts be required to treat allegations of misuse of public funds with highest priority for action, but, likewise, if allegations are found frivolous or done in bad faith, impose severe penalties against those making the allegations.

"I could not countenance the pork barrel system because it is a travesty of decency and integrity of governance of the country we love. The Filipino people do not deserve this travesty. Let the travesty end, now!" added Malayang.  (FREEMAN)