How Independent is Independent?

So, this is our solution to widespread and deeply rooted corruption – an independent commission. I know it’s not really the solution. It’s more like the path that would lead us to the solution, hopefully. Nevertheless, if this were the way to corruption-free government, why has this not been thought of and done long ago? Could not the Ombudsman or the NBI do the job of investigating corrupt flood control projects? Is not that included in their mandate? Why is there a need for a new agency?

Well, apparently, this ghost flood control project issue has become so messy and tangled worse than a pile of trash on which gangs of dogs and cats had a bloody, riotous gang war. We have to understand that a congressional or senate or DPWH inquiry or investigation would raise suspicions because the senators and officials themselves are being implicated in the corruption cases. Some or many senators could be involved. DPWH officials are allegedly probably involved. I stifle a laugh at the thought that the senators doing these investigations and inquiries could be involved themselves. If the investigation be charged to DPWH, there is a high probability that the officials themselves would be investigating themselves. Come on. Would you submit a report that says you are guilty of corruption and therefore recommended to criminal prosecution and/or return of misused funds. That’s practically suicidal. Yes, let’s ask someone else to do the inquiry and investigation, not DPWH, not senators, not the congressmen lest they also have connections with the guilty parties.

But, how independent is independent? The members are former officials or were at some point, connected with the government. I am not alleging anything. I am not raising suspicions. These past weeks, we have been surprised, rather appalled with the large amount of funds that have been practically stolen, the officials who have been party to these grand scheme, the personalities alleged to have received nauseously huge amounts of money, the length of time that modus operandi has been operating, the large scale of flood-control projects that do not actually exist, the large number of luxury cars that a family of four or five could not probably regularly interchangeably use in a month. I first heard of Sarah Discaya as a mayoral candidate who was brave enough to oppose Pasig City Mayor Vico sotto in the last elections. Back then, I thought, well and good; of course, democracy gives opportunity to anyone to give his/her shot at public service. Now, we got to know her all the mor, of her fondness of cars and contracts. Backtracking on the elections, one has to wonder, what were her intentions and plans if she made it to city hall. Now, I have developed trust issues. Who’s to say this member does not have connections with anyone who have been party to this grand plunder? Who’s to say if this person is not a fraternity brother or sorority sister with one of the engineers, contractors or government officials whose necks are lined up behind the guillotine when the true truth gets exposed. We’re in a zombie apocalypse and I’ve become so anxious that I don’t know who’s a zombie or not a zombie anymore. Maybe, those who don’t turn out to be zombies are not humans, but vampires. I would have to run away from them just the same.

They say, “no friends, no allies” would be spared. Oh, I have heard it all before. That sounds the same as “walang kumpare, walang kaibigan”, “walang wangwang” sa daang matuwid, and “change is coming”. I raise my index finger and middle finger in a peace sign, as I apologize”, for my cynicism and pessimism. I just can’t help the thought that we might end up where we started in the first place. Whatever would come out of this, we would get tired of talking about and listening to all these; something else would catch our attention; the hype would die down. Then, we’ll all go back to how it used to be with the zombies and vampires out again with more effective and convincing disguises.

This issue has been the favorite topic of discussion for quite a considerable lengthy period of time now. It has been sufficient time for the involved engineers, contractors, government officials and who knows who else to cover their tracks, divert funds, divide spoils, burn records, and build their fortresses of safety from any investigation. Either that or they could have silently slipped out of the country, to somewhere safer, maybe Ukraine or Poland. What scraps could the commission gather at this time?

At the end of the day, the independent commission seems to be the logical, rational, just and, democratic move to take.

Galatians 5:13: “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh ; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”