Jade Deocampo Deinla is one very disillusioned young man. Disillusioned with this government (read Comelec) and its corruption. And who is Deinla? He

Calling A Spade... By Solita Collas-Monsod

Jade Deocampo Deinla is one very disillusioned young man. Disillusioned with this government (read Comelec) and its corruption. And who is Deinla? He was the short-lived (less than four months) IT consultant of the Comelec, fired on the spot by Comelec Chair Sixto Brillantes in a letter dated Sept 9, 2011, for “your illegal, if not criminal proposal to the undersigned” (i.e., Brillantes), “without prejudice to criminal and/or administrative action against you as the evidence would warrant.”

Anything more about Deinla? Well, he is 32 years old, has his own software company, a UP Engineering 2001 graduate, a Namfrel volunteer in 2004 and 2007, whose main advocacy is IT and its as-yet-unrealized potential. He also did an IT job pro bono for the DOTC (also part of his advocacy)

This is his story, as told to me. Reader, judge for yourself. Deinla was hired by Brillantes on the recommendation (and after an interview with Brillantes) of Commissioner Gus Lagman. The professional fee would be P25,000 a month (peanuts), and Deinla was asked by Brillantes to rationalize the Comelec’s IT requirements. This was right down Deinla’s alley, because part of his advocacy was automated elections.

Very enthusiastically, he prepared and submitted a proposal to Brillantes to do a technical audit of the IT projects of the Comelec for the last five years. This, as distinguished from a financial audit, as done by COA, because a technical audit determines whether the technical terms of reference have been fulfilled. Deinla had already written a white paper on what he claims to be P1.2 trillion that he estimates the government has already spent on various automation projects, which in his opinion turned out to be underdelivered, wrongly delivered or not delivered at all.

Brillantes approved his proposal in principle, but “it never flew.” Why? Dainle recounts that Brillantes cautioned him to be “dahan dahan” (go slow), as there was a cartel/syndicate operating in the Comelec, whose toes might be stepped on and could make things difficult. This cartel supposedly was in a position to determine whether a project would push through, and for that to happen, “dapat magbibigay” (there must be some contribution). Brillantes also inserted, in their conversations, the question on whether “si Gus ay tumatanggap” (Gus Lagman is on the take). This happened two or three times (in the five or so conversations that took place between them), and Deinla’s answer would always be a No.

Deinla followed up the technical audit proposal, which he expected to start with asking the Comelec IT department to submit certain documents. He even drafted a memorandum for Brillantes to sign, but which Brillantes never did.

On Sept. 7, another conversation took place between Deinla and Brillantes, at the request of the former. After the issue brought up by Deinla had been disposed, Brillantes adverted to a collection case involving a freight forwarding company called Cmex, where the latter’s bill for services rendered during the barangay elections, amounting to something like P43 million, had been turned down by the Comelec (at Commissioner Rene Sarmiento’s urging), by a vote of 5 to 2 -- the 2 in the minority being Commissioners Tagle and Yusoph. The approved amount was only P3 million.

Brillantes allegedly told Deinla that a motion for reconsideration (MR), sponsored by Tagle, was being discussed, with another motion, this time sponsored by Yusuf, for a P25-million payment, also on the table.

Continuing Deinla’s story: Brillantes said that he was not going to change his vote on the MR, because it would still lose (4-3). The “susi” (key) for any reversal would have to be Commissioner Velasco or Commissioner Lagman. What Brillantes wanted Deinla to find out was whether Gus Lagman would reverse himself, as in “Jade [Deinla], ikaw na ang magtanong. Ayoko.”

Deinla apparently walked over to Gus’ office and asked Gus whether he would reverse himself on the case, because Brillantes would change his mind only if Gus did so. Gus replied that he would review the case and decide on its merits (this conversation apparently took place in front of others).

Deinla conveyed Gus’ reply to Brillantes, who then said he would talk to Velasco (the other “susi”), and then mentioned that Yusoph and Tagle had approached him, to tell him that if the MR were approved, “mayroon ka diyan” (you will get something).

Brillantes than asked Deinla if he could find out from Cmex how much the offer was. Deinla said he would try, but he did not know anyone from Cmex. However, Deinla had a friend, who had a friend, who knows Cmex -- and that was how Deinla found out that the offer was P6.5 million. One million each for the commissioners who would vote for approval, and P3.5 million for Brillantes.

Brillantes asked him to arrange a meeting for Sept. 9 -- coffee at the Manila Hotel at around 6 p.m. And on Sept 9, Brillantes asked him, “wala bang pang kape?” (Isn’t there anything for coffee?”

Here now is the quote from the statement issued by Deinla through his lawyers: “The Chairman called me around 4:30 p.m. and asked me if I’m still coming, I answered him that I was in Manila City Hall already, well in fact, am already outside of Palacio del Gobernador comtemplating on what I got myself into. Then, while outside, my contact called and told me that the Cmex big boss is already on his way to Manila Hotel and with him is P500,000.00 for the Chairman.

“I went up to the Office of the Chairman and told him all the information I got, to my surprise, he asked me, “Pwede bang ikaw na lang ang makipag-meet, baka setup yan.” I replied, “Chairman, hindi naman po siguro kasi meet and greet lang kayo.” The Chairman then asked me to confirm the offer of 3.5M to him and to 1M to each Commissioner which I did. Then I knew something was wrong because, his voice got louder and he said to me “Yang bata among Cmex, masyado kaming minamaliit” then the security personnel came out and the Chairman handed to me my termination letter. I smiled at him, shaked his hand and said “Chairman, thank you.”

So, Reader. Who do you think is telling the truth?