A truth commission on PDAF? By Florangel Rosario Braid If the first initiative to establish it four years ago though what could have been the first Executive Order did not come to fruition, can we give it a second try? This is what is now being pushed by several groups – a Truth Commission consisting of people known for integrity, probity, and good character from the academe, media, civil society organizations, previous public officials, according to Rep. Sherwin Tugna of the Citizens Battle against Corruption partylist. The proposed commission will be recommendatory and would not bypass the authority of the Office of the Ombudsman and the courts in performing their functions of prosecuting cases related to the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scams. But why set up a Commission when already, there appears to be several agencies probing the “mother of all scandals” in our century? The public does not doubt the credibility and integrity of our current Ombudsman, former Supreme Court Justice Conchita Carpio Morales, as well as the two other “Furies,” Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and COA Chair Grace Pulido-Tan who made possible subsequent unwrapping of evidence that led to the arrest and detention of Janet Napoles. The argument is that in addition to the need for an agency independent from government, there is need to have a full-time office that is able to focus on this. The Senate has other things to do, and as Senator Trillanes had earlier indicated, it may not be as effective since some of its members are implicated. Too, a Truth Commission may be able to arrive at needed recommendations on the utilization of public funds at a much faster pace. This is important as the pork barrel scam has evoked so much outrage and cynicism. But what I consider an important rationale for setting up a Truth Commission is its capacity to provide catharsis to a people who for decades have been deprived of good governance from their leaders. It can be a mechanism that would allow them to vent frustrations and anger against their abusive officials. More than anything else, this is what the Truth Commissions established in South Africa and some other countries had accomplished with the setting up of a structure for community catharsis and reconciliation. Another mechanism suggested by Rep. Lito Atienza is to form an independent panel composed of seven retired justices of the Supreme Court. I am sure there are other ways by which the nation can arrive at a consensus on how justice can best be served. The problem has become muddled with so many lists and conflicting claims that if this continues, we may end up destroying whatever good we have built over the past decades. But with all these good intentions, will things really change? Being an optimist, I tend to look at the more positive side of the landscape. But lately, I have been getting feedback like this one from a good fiend and concerned citizen: Unfortunately, these corrupt officials are not limited to our so-called honorable men in the various branches of government. Corruption permeates all levels of our bureaucracy. This explains why our major taxpayers would rather pay high-priced accountants to avoid paying the right taxes, knowing fully well that the same will most likely just line up the pockets of our bureaucrats. After the failure of EDSA, I have lost any hope for any meaningful change in government for the betterment of our people especially the marginalized. After the hue and cry against Napoles and those involved in her scam, do you really believe they will get their comeuppance they fully deserve? To me, it is nothing more than a pipe dream. My e-mail is florangel.braid@gmail
Posted on: Wed, 04 Jun 2014 09:32:31 +0000
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