Law is the rule of the right

by Peter Jimenea, from the Daily Guardian

IT TOOK decades for previous crooks to amass the same amount of loot the present clique of thieves in the kingdom by the river have plundered in just less than nine years. But look, even the shameless react violently after getting the spanking they deserved for their stupidity.

If we look closely at what is happening at the kingdom by the river, the indomitable corruption could bring an honest auditor to the brink of insanity. Lowly employees are more sorely tempted to steal but don’t, what a shame!

Consider this, Mr. Manuel “Boy” Mejorada was sacked as provincial administrator and even the Civil Service Commission (CSC) declared his position vacant. On why he is still at the Capitol, he has yet to say.

But somebody says he is now a Capitol volunteer. SEC. 480, of the Local Government Code (LGC) says the Provincial Administrator must be a resident of the province concerned, coterminous with the appointing authority and the appointment is mandatory.

Mejorada’s election case reached the CA because Gov. Niel Tupas, Sr. is willing to hit the mattress in sticking it out with him. On why, only God knows. But it was a saddest misfortune that what the governor claims to be his loyal men are now stabbing him at the back.

Former provincial administrator Mejorada and Levy Buenavista forced themselves to become members of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) in the acquisition of that Autoclave machine intended for use of Passi City Hospital

But being coterminous with Gov. Tupas, they are prohibited to become members of the BAC. Delicadeza dictates they should inhibit themselves from attending even the meeting or bidding being conducted by the BAC.

Sad to say, love of money knows no law. Buenavista impliedly represented himself as representative from the governor’s office while Mejorada entered as BAC member on the pretext of representing the office of the provincial administrator. What a cheat!

They should know that implied powers are those which are necessarily included in, but of lesser degree than powers granted to them. It cannot extend to other matters not embraced therein are nor incidental thereto.” (Azarcon vs. Sandiganbayan, 268 SCRA 747).

By forcing their way into BAC, Mejorada and Buenavista deliberately stepped over the line of pardonable behavior. What a gall, but the one eventually gets screwed is Gov. Tupas as usual, for playing dumb-sucker!

Love of money may have developed strange-relationship between the once blacklisted supplier and the man at General Services Office (GSO), an office of ill-refute. But their gang when in grouping is reeking with Domino theory, autoclave machine today, another item tomorrow.

The acquisition of that autoclave machine was inspired by greed. Greed compels them to transact business even if contra bonos mores – contrary to sound established practice or against good morals!

I heard that a number of Capitol employees were reprimanded by the governor for being suspects to have leaked the messy deal to this writer. Gov. Tupas should know this is an ironed transaction consensus omnium – by the agreement of all.

Unfortunately, they failed to notice that Capitol employees are no longer interested in reading good stories about the provincial government. The employees are now more interested to know on how Capitol officials spend their money!

By the way, only the office of the governor has the copy of that COA report. So, how did it leak? Let me share this very important lesson from experience which says; “The greatest security risk of any organization is not from outside but from within.”

Well I hope we understand each other now. There is nobody to blame but people who are so careless in holding important documents like that one from COA. They don’t have the faintest idea that even grasses have ears.

Now that’s what they get for their stupidity. I hope to have made your day in this column, you ask for it. Unlike me and Dirty Harry who ask others to make our day!