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Nothing But The Truth
First Published: Reflections - The Philippine Daily Inquirer Publication Date: 25th November 1995 Author's Name: Father Shay Cullen SSC I thought that the issue on the Commission on Audit (COA) report on the SBMA was closed but Mr. Gordon and Ferdinand M. Aristorenas (SBMA legal department) have made false allegations that "reflections" was lying about the alleged anomalies and wrong-doing in the COA report this must be answered. Being maligned, cursed, stoned, receiving death threats and harassment are the occupational hazards that can be expected sometimes by any writer who reports the truth. That is why few dare to speak out and who can blame them. Many a journalist in the Philippines has been beaten up, threatened harassed and some even murdered by those who felt threatened by the exposure of allegations of wrong doing. Inquirer reporters investigating illegal logging received death threats. In Olongapo a few years ago Mr. Romeo Legaspi a writer was murdered by persons unknown after his expose about protected crime lords. A "personal attack' on a writer claiming he or she is motivated by hatred or malice is an expected response of those confronted by a critical government audit. Mr. Gordon should be furious at the Commissioner for public audit not at "Reflections" for any critical content of the report. It is in the public interest to know where hard earned tax money is being spent. This writer has no personal feelings against any individual government official whosoever. Reporting the facts is not a "war", a diatribe, an attempt to dishonor, bandy morbid fantasies, ridicule, make ludicrous claims, nor is it motivated by a personal grudge or seeking to end Mr. Gordon's career,(I didn't even know it was in jeopardy?) as the SBMA letter to the Inquirer last 25 11/94 claims. Wrong on all counts and there are surely many readers who have read "Reflections" for many years who can attest to that fact. If they thought that they would have abandoned the Inquirer. Instead the circulation of the Sunday Inquirer has mushroomed and stayed at No.1. Having worked in Olongapo helping the poor for the best part of 25 years and travelled around the Philippines I have seen the appalling and persistent poverty that many, including President Ramos has vowed to overcome, it is only natural to hope with him that large sums of public funds will be spent wisely by officials to directly improve the lot of the impoverished. No one will believe that this administration will cover up wrong-doing and corruption. The SBMA said that it had P210 million starting off November 1992-93 and the COA reports says it earned an impressive P228,229,141.22. On page 47 of the COA report the capital stock of the SBMA as of December 31 ,1993 was made up of a cash contribution from the National Government amounted to P 469,865,498.00 and fixed property valued at P19,100,000,000.00 The SBMA is a great success it seems in raising, earning and spending money. The only question is how was the money spent and accounted for. So when one reads in the COA report Page 41 the following "The revenue collection system, including the handling and recording thereof was deficient and contrary to sound internal control procedures. In particular, various collections totalling P12,364,290.56 were not acknowledged with official receipts and not deposited with the bank daily and intact." is it not fair comment to say that this is questionable? Reflections simply said that the P15 million for a helicopter, P9 million for maintaining the grounds ( despite the thousands of unpaid volunteers doing this) and the P20 million for arms and 125,000 for sniper scopes were questionable especially in the view of the thousands of unpaid labor used by the SBMA. The SBMA says this part of the budget was not spent. That is now understandable because the COA report explains on page 44 "Inadequate documentation, improper authorization, and nonconformity with law rules and regulations have caused the suspension of disbursement vouchers which amounted to P220,976,584.39 as of June 1993 ." Perhaps that us why it was not allowed to be spent. "Reflections" has always taken a stand for the poor and the oppressed and sees that the volunteer system at the SBMA is not patriotic heroism but a way to extorting free labor. Is it fair and just to have to work unpaid for months and no food before getting employed? When a visitor to Subic rents a house for a day at US$120 a unpaid house keeper goes with it. At the former admiral's house which is used by visiting dignitaries including President Ramos three old women recently interviewed said they take care of it with no-pay.
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