PHILSTAR EDITORIAL: SWINE SCAM
MANILA, APRIL 3, 2008 (STAR) This is why people are forced to rely on congressional investigations to uncover wrongdoing in government.
A report prepared by the Commission on Audit way back in 2005 showed deficiencies in the accounting of P747 million for a swine program of the Quedan and Rural Credit Guarantee Corp. The funds were reportedly part of P2.25 billion borrowed from the Land Bank of the Philippines, which could have been used instead to boost rice production.
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, who as administrator of the National Food Authority was a board member of the Quedancor at the time, said he ordered an investigation of the reported irregularity when he assumed his latest post in October 2006. The probe continues, he said, adding that the COA report was forwarded to the Office of the Ombudsman for appropriate action.
Over a year later, that action is still awaited. Now that details of the COA report are out, lawmakers are planning their own investigation, but this is no guarantee that it will prod the Ombudsman to act quicker on a documented anomaly involving P747 million in public funds.
The Quedancor irregularity is not the only unresolved case that implies corruption in the agriculture sector. Former agriculture official Jocelyn “Joc-joc” Bolante played a cat-and-mouse game with Congress shortly before fleeing and popping up in the United States, where his status is uncertain, after lawmakers summoned him to shed light on the fertilizer fund scam. Former agriculture secretary Cito Lorenzo also fled amid accusations that millions in fertilizer funds were diverted to the campaign kitty of President Arroyo in the 2004 race.
Yap, as NFA administrator at the time, may help shed light on the fertilizer fund controversy if summoned in a congressional probe. But the administration has found a powerful shield against transparency and accountability in the recent Supreme Court ruling on executive privilege. In this case the administration may invoke the privilege under the pretext of protecting diplomatic relations with Vietnam.
Supporters of the administration make noises about the need to ferret out the truth and stamp out corruption – as long as their jobs and sinecures or those of their spouses are not imperiled and the process does not implicate the President, her relatives, political allies and business cronies. Those supporters demand evidence beyond the testimonies of witnesses in congressional inquiries. The COA report on the swine program is damning evidence submitted to proper authorities. Over two years later, there has been no action on the anomaly.
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2008
by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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