The affluent and the Balili culverts

RAMIREZ

The recent discovery that some active Capitol officials orchestrated the transfer without authority of some government assets from the controversial Balili property in Naga City and used in a subdivision inhabited by wealthy families in Cebu City, shows there are Capitol officials who are not learning from the lessons of the infamous transactions that resulted in the sacking by the Ombudsman of a former governor.

If Provincial Administrator Mark Tolentino and property office head Jone Sepe refused to learn from the lessons of the controversial Balili deal involving the administration of then governor and now 3rd district Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia, they should have observed some “delicadeza” because the former is one of those who will benefit from the use of a government property in a private subdivision where he lives.

I have been into almost all the corners of the subdivision where Tolentino lives for several times already and judging from the physical appearance of the houses and the number of vehicles parked inside their garage, it is safe to say that the locators are multi-millionaires.

The publicized unauthorized use of government-owned culverts dragged the name of the subdivision, and I know that it is not sitting well with the homeowners of St. Michael’s Village who I believed can very well afford to buy the said materials just to solve the drainage problem in the area.

Flooding is a serious problem and I am sure the well-to-do homeowners of St. Michael’s Village are willing to shell out the needed amount just to protect their properties from the damage that will be brought about by inundation.

I don’t know if the homeowners were even consulted in the move of Tolentino in using government culverts for their subdivision including the alleged tapping of Capitol workers to install and fix their drainage system, and if they were consulted, I doubt if they were properly explained of the proper government procedure in acquiring and disposing of those properties.

If indeed the culverts are actually deteriorating after having been exposed to the elements for a long time, is it not ironic that people residing in a high-end subdivision would take chances in utilizing an inferior quality material to protect their fortunes from the flood?

If ever the “donation” go through the process of consultation, did not anyone from the homeowners brought up the issue if they were deserving of such an appropriation from the provincial government when they know for a fact that there are other areas in the province that badly need the materials?

Is it not ironic for Tolentino who is a lawyer, not to be knowledgeable about the law and regulation that the Commission on Audit (COA) cited that he violated in appropriating the government material for himself and his affluent neighbors.

If the Davide administration triumphs over the recent decision of the Ombudsman expelling Rep. Garcia from government service because of unauthorized purchase of filling materials for the Balili lot, they should not because one of their own is as guilty as the former lady governor as pointed out by the Ombudsman.

Although Davide reportedly said that he was upset at Tolentino over the controversy, his disappointment and frustration over his trusted lieutenants at the Capitol could not redeem the harmful effects of the issue to his leadership.

Davide’s admission that he did not know about the transaction could be gleaned as an admission that he does not have a grip over his key appointed officials in the province who are supposed to help him implement his anti-corruption policies.

The incident shows that there is truth to the issues hurled against him during the election that he is a weak leader because he is not even respected by his alter egos in the capitol who for several times already has been accused of indiscretions.

There is no other way for Davide to clean his ground than to fire Tolentino and the two others named in the investigation of COA regarding the irregular disposal of government properties that directly benefited a rich-filled private subdivision.