By ERWIN TULFO
IF you believe that corruption has diminished in the P-noy administration, think again.
Like pesky pussies, or rats, corruption via kickbacks and commissions in government contracts still flourishes and has more than doubled during the past two years of the Aquino government.
A good example is this department which I would not name yet since its head is a friend. Nevertheless, I would like to inform my dear unwitting buddy of the problem and see that he acts on it fast. Otherwise, we might just part ways once and for all.
My friend might not know it but a syndicate exists in his agency. It is composed of an undersecretary, a local government official, who has a relative in the said department, and a former lawmaker who also has kin in the same agency.
This is how the syndicate works. The local government official and the former lawmaker would look for contractors for local government officials in dire need of funds for their projects.
The said local government official and the ex-lawmaker would then charge 20 percent commission. From the commission, they would ask for 50 percent up front. If the contractor of the local government official in need of a project grabs the bait and agrees to their terms, the two syndicate members would then call their precious contact – an undersecretary who has access to the said department’s funds.
According to my assets, funding for projects recommended by these two individuals are given priority. After all, their contact inside is an undersecretary who has magical access to the agency’s financial resources.
As a matter of fact, funds for P200 million worth of projects were released late last year to one town upon the recommendation of the syndicate.
Upon the release of the allotment sub-advice, the contractor or the mayor has to immediately pay to the syndicate the full amount of the agreed commission.
Another thing is this: the department which my friend heads still has a lot of holdover officials from the Arroyo administration. No wonder corruption still exists in this agency.
I do hope that my friend will wake up one day and clean up this agency. Otherwise, he might be axed or fired from this job by the President.
On a triumphant note, I would like to thank DILG Sec. Jesse Robredo for acting on my column regarding video karera. However, I would also like to inform the good secretary that the same illegal gambling activities thrive in Pampanga, specifically in the townsof Mabalacat, Mexico, Guagaua, Arayat and Angeles City.
Not less than 5,000 video karera machines are reportedly owned by a certain Robert Bautista or alias BB. I have tried to inform the provincial director of Pampanga and even the PNP Region 3 director of this matter. However, these two officials have refused to take my calls.
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