he mainstream media continue to confuse the public about the alleged P10.5 billion pork barrel scam by prejudging Janet Napoles without explaining that it could not have happened had it not for the corrupted system framed in the shoddy 1987 Constitution. We take this stand because as far as the public knows with regard to the disbursement of public funds, there has to be an appropriation specifically indicating the purpose or the project for which said fund was appropriated. Paradoxically, without the appropriation, the release of the fund is deemed illegal. From that conventional view, we are also made to believe that all appropriations must indicate the project and the purpose or as some would call it “lined” or “itemized” budgetary appropriations. Talking now of Napoles, the observant public could only guess why she is being blamed for the diversion that huge amount of the Priority Developmental Assistance Fund allegedly through an intricate funnel using fictitious non-government organizations as fronts that allegedly ended up into her personal account. Using the basic provisions of the Constitution as our tracer, one could say there is no way for Napoles to get hold of those funds, she not being a public official entitled to it. If she was able to secure them, she must have been authorized by said public official in writing or must have falsified those documents by forging their signature. Viewed in that angle, the public at large could only surmise that the embezzlement began or was made possible by those congressmen and senators who allowed the misuse of their pork barrel. Her participation, as one lawyer would put it, began after the funds were taken out from the coffers by those officials entitled to it. Invariably, the issue of liability should begin on those who availed of their PDAF, and of the scheming services offered by Napoles, assured that the modus operandi was foolproof to give them their good night’s sleep. In fact, the most that one can do against Napoles is to accuse her of a crime akin to fencing.
Posted on: Sun, 08 Sep 2013 11:38:10 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015