Friendly reminder

ALMOST everyone is talking about the acquittal of former senator Bong Revilla of plunder charges. That’s why I won’t.

The more I think about it, the more it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. To make matters worse, a Cebuana penned the decision.

Can you then blame Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Geraldine Faith Econg for immediately hiding behind legality to justify letting the apparently still popular actor off?

“Yes, I know it’s unpopular. I would have loved to be a heroine that convicted him. But at the end of the day, I’m bound to rule based on evidence presented by both the prosecution and defense,” she said.

Well, Econg had her chance.

Then again, this issue will probably go the way of the dodo before the end of the year and everyone will go about their daily lives as if nothing had happened. Because, unfortunately, it has happened before. People raise a great outcry against something only to forget what that something is later on.

You don’t believe me? One word: Marcos. Anyway, that’s why I’d rather talk about the Department of Education’s (Deped) gentle reminder to teachers and parents not to overdo the children’s Christmas parties.

I know. They’re adults. They shouldn’t have to be told. But then I keep forgetting where we are. We live in a culture where showing off trumps being practical.

Can’t afford a lavish wedding? Then by all means, mortgage the family land and while you’re at it, the house, too. That way, guests can gorge themselves until they puke. God forbid they’d think the bride and groom were scrimping on the celebration. Meanwhile, the hosts will spend the next few months or years trying to recoup their losses. Go figure.

So I know where Dr. Danilo Gudelosao is coming from. “The party doesn’t have to be ostentatious. The important thing is the children will know why Christmas is celebrated,” said the Deped Cebu City assistant schools division superintendent in Cebuano.

Yes, children. Despite what you think, Christmas is not about sales at the mall. Or exchanging gifts. Or getting presents. And no, there’s no Santa Claus. The big guy would probably die of a heat stroke if he ever found himself in this part of the world.

So what is the “true spirit of Christmas?”

Why are you looking at me? Go ask Gudelosao.

In fairness to the guy, he understands the parents’ propensity to sometimes go beyond their budget when pledging for meals or decorations for their children’s party. Hence, the advice to be practical.

OMG! I’m being such a party pooper.

I told you that Revilla fiasco has left a bad taste in my mouth./sunstar Cebu

FIRST and, all right, foremost: the pork barrel or money the National Government gives to local governments in the form of projects is not illegal.

What the Supreme Court struck down five years ago as illegal and unconstitutional was the procedure in appropriating and disbursing the money. Lump sums and “discretion” of lawmakers: euphemism for their control in identifying the project, picking the private supplier of goods or services, and pocketing kickbacks.

Two months or so ago, House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-arroyo admitted that each congressman or congresswoman will get P60 million and each senator P200 million in projects for their districts. That, after talks circulated that the “pork barrel” was back.

Pork barrel aids LGUS

A confusion of meanings. Pork barrel is confused with the scandal in the massive thievery of public funds given to local governments.

“Pork barrel” in its original and pristine meaning has always been there. Under a democratic government, the central government helps LGUS through projects that build roads, bridges and irrigation systems, set up mass transport, repair ports and highways, and the like. Political patronage necessarily comes with it. But the stealing is not, must not be, a component.

The public condemned the flawed procedure that resulted in loss of at least P10 billion in public funds granted to legislative districts through their respective House members. The high court disabled the law on PDAF (deceptively called Priority Development Assistance Fund) and two presidential decrees that allowed the president to use royalties from Malampaya for projects other than non-energy activities. The high court did not, repeat did not, abolish aid to LGUS by way of projects.

Ping charges, Andaya denials

Even Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who has singlehandedly battled the feasting on public funds through congressional action, fails to distinguish pork barrel (the assistance to LGUS) from the system (the laws that facilitated the looting). Thus, the misperception about pork barrel.

House Deputy Speaker Rolando Andaya insists that the lower Congress religiously followed the SC interpretation of the law. Meaning, all the appropriations for each district are listed in the budget bill and members of Congress would have no “discretion” in identifying the projects, choosing contractors, and releasing funds. No “postenactment” participation by legislators.

But how come House members, mostly political allies of the speaker, get a lot more for their districts?

Disparity in shares

Disparity between pork slices of the speaker’s friends and those of lesser House occupants staggers belief. The figures are not out but Senator Ping gave a glimpse of it when he said the amounts for districts of the speaker and her second-in-command totals more than P3 billion.

Assume that Andaya was being honest. And all appropriations were line items, meticulously and diligently listed, project-by-project in the GAA (General appropriations Act). But they were discovered and tagged as last-minute insertions, meaning they were not passed by the House as enrolled bill in plenary session but smuggled in afterwards.

Is discretion back?

The House initiates appropriation measures; it has the “power of the purse,” thus its capacity to dictate the amount and manner of spending. If Lacson is right, it’s not the law that is flawed; it is the tampering of the law that is the problem.

What the nation may want to know is whether House members, whose districts benefit from the bill, are given the discretion that the SC took away five years ago. That meddling in how the slices of pork are consumed was what made the pork barrel of old stink./sunstar Cebu