Lets be clear. Money was not stolen here. There is no accusation of personal misuse. The money is all accounted for. But still lots of legal sirens blasted and red flags hoisted when I read how the Aquino Administration used the Malampaya Fund to support the budget. It seems to me that you precisely create a fund so that it is not commingled with other funds. That seems to be so basic. This is a good time for everyone to be reminded that, strange as it may sound, not everything moral is legal. In other words, regardless of good and well-intentioned motives, one is still accountable and expected to follow the law. In my Public Officers class, I always stress the point that the first and probably most important rule laid down by the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and subsequent public accountability laws is that one must at all times obey the law - its spirit and yes its letter. Otherwise, you will get into a slippery slope that will be hard to stand up from. This is especially true for this administration and its reformers who are really doing incredibly good, if risky, things. Every mistake will be exploited and all guns are blazing so there is no margin of error. Let me make it clear that I support the reformers and in fact wish they were even more radical but they have to be backed up by masterful and solid lawyering. Frankly, except for the Office of Solicitor General (who is limited to playing defense) and in some cases the Department of Justice (whose function is mainly criminal prosecution), I do not see that kind of lawyering in the administration. rappler/nation/41912-no-cash-left-malampaya-fund
Posted on: Tue, 22 Oct 2013 03:36:52 +0000
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