Prosecute the guilty now!

A Statement on the Ombudsman’s Intent to file charges vs. suspected pork scammers by the Cebu Coalition Against the Pork Barrel System
April 3, 2014

The Cebu Coalition Against the Pork Barrel System welcomes the latest news regarding the intent to prosecute the suspects involved in the Pork Barrel Scam. However, in sieving through the information available, we find that no concrete action has actually been taken yet regarding this festering issue. The Ombudsman has released news that it intends to file plunder and malversation charges against some senators and other respondents, while the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has only released its draft report recommending the same.

Intent simply precedes action. It is not yet ACTION itself.

The Coalition strongly calls for the Ombudsman to take the necessary steps as soon as possible. We further call that a trial commence immediately, and all efforts to make the trial commence without undue interference and delay from outside entities be undertaken.

Moreover, all public officials being tried should resign from office, not necessarily as an admission of guilt but so that the truth be known without undue influence.

At no other time in Philippine history has the reputation of the Senate been as damaged as it is now. The Legislative Branch has been subject to so much distrust from the citizenry.

The people have been betrayed by corruption and poor performance. The main reason for frustrating all the valid dreams and aspirations of a whole country has been exposed for all to see. The Philippines could have been one of the most progressive countries in the world had it not been for corruption and incompetence in government.

It is time now to make an example of the power of the Law, and thus regain the respect the Legislature once had. It is time to assure the people that this Government functions for the service of the whole country, and not just the people in power.

In this Lenten Season, we are called to conversion. Pope Francis said, “Lent is to adjust life, to fix life, to change life, to draw closer to the Lord. May the Lord give us all light and courage: light to know what’s happening within us, and courage to convert, to draw closer to the Lord.”

If we get our acts together NOW, we may yet look back to these times as the defining moment in institutionalizing our fight against corruption and strengthening our government institutions in partnership with civil society.