Pork

            Red meat, ham, animal protein, beef, chicken, mutton, lamb – it’s all synonymous with pork any carnivorous man can’t live without. In the world of Philippine politics, it’s called Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) enjoyed by 23 Senators and 270 Congressman.

 In sum, it accounts for  P23.7 Billion yearly budget culled straight from taxpayers money and returned back allegedly to them through various development projects. Sounds great but not when you know that the music is grating to any  concern taxpayer’s ear.  It’s indeed sad to note  that the people themselves are shortchanged as they are left in the receiving end what with more  than  half of the budget  railroaded somewhere as it passes through different third parties with greasy hands before it finally reaches the constituents who are supposed to be direct beneficiaries of PDAF. Put it simply, it’s the great source of corruption.

So you want to get rid of corruption? Weed out the third party! But can we? There just  seems to be problem somewhere. Political will? Maybe. Inaptitude? Maybe. It depends who are its apologist. For as in the corrupt English dictum bares it: It’s very hard to face the problem if the problem is your face! That I think all will agree. Thus, the pressing issue -  do we have what it really  takes to face the problem head on? Must be kidding. Yes of course only we don’t give damn about it.

 That has  always been a sad refrain as in a song hearing all these legitimate complaints reaching us to far greater proportion that all opportunity seems to have  slipped us  by beyond control  contributing  us  tarnished image  as one of the most corrupt country in the world. And yet we seemed to have remained  undaunted as if basking  in glory from this infamy.  Witness all the seemingly many excuses and approaches of combating this malady which are all palliative. Look how our good Congressmen in the House of Representative brazenly mangled the 14 years in the making Freedom of Information Bill only to be buried in the last minute without seeing the dawn by mere technicality! Surprisingly, Cong. Romualdo’s true color came out when he revealed back home later in one radio station  that no way he could appreciate faces of journalist who might pry on questionable projects in effect begging  ACDC journalist should first clean their  own backyard instead before minding politicians’ business through FOI Bill. What truly an irresponsible declaration from the good Congressman as if all members of the media are corrupt.

 Clearly, it was very good gambit and familiar  antics  the same way he had  employed when he invoked by mere technicality the lack of quorum before PGMA’s term ended. Ironically, the numbers of  honorable Congressmen back then would have been enough constituting the  quorum only they  were seen just loitering around in the premises. Where the heart is willing it will find thousand means; but where the heart is unwilling it will find not just thousand but million of excuses. Securing enough courage  as if moving heaven and earth not to muster enough quorum as cover up was definitely the best thing they could do. Undoubtedly, it was conspiracy or passing that FOI Bill early on  would have opened  the Pandora’s box of corruption smelling fishy as more and more skeletons on their closet would be revealed to the public.  That incident was  technically corruption in the highest order.

 It is just hoped therefore that such scandalous event would not become a precedent now that another FOI version is introduced under P-Noy’s presidency who repeatedly vows in fighting corruption with finality. As it  is now however, it appears that it’s all still  rhetorics. “P40 M cut from the beef was personal opinion of Quezon Rep. Lorenzo ‘Erin’ Tanada III,” begs P-NOY. With an exemption of  really honorable Congressmen like Rufus Rodriguez, Roilo Golez, then  Rolando Uy among others whose projects implemented in their respective districts speak for their own character, much is still found wanting to many of the rest. Why not therefore treat each share of pork according to each own merit.  Correspondingly, slashed the pork from those who have not delivered the results to their district. Or better still, why not directly give the pork to their constituents making  many would all be more  happy.

Where does P-NOY then really stands? Why not start right treating this malady with its corresponding cure right in his own backyard or suffer identity crisis instead becoming casualty as corruption blows right before his face. That’s precisely the problem. Unfortunately such observation doesn’t deserve further qualification unless he suffers mental lapses when he clearly identified his crusade against it as  his campaign pledge to stop corruption. Most importantly, he’d been through it  incidentally enjoying the smorgasbord menu arising from the pork  as both Congressman and Senator.  Alright it might be difficult now  addressing the issue as it would define the true character of his administration vis a vis to corruption. But when would he start applying the cure to this malady. He has afterall traveled that far on the road less traveled riding on the crest of yellow army reaching the threshold of presidency past many calvary of Lent. He has already weathered troubled road of politics passing and celebrating Easter of election garnering overwhelming mandate. What more does he need when he has everything for his disposal.  The right move in the right time.  This is your show, this is your time. Give us results as it is your showtime.