Dishonest disclosure

WHAT? Only P4.7 million?
Incredulous is the report that contributions to the gubernatorial campaign of Eddie T. Panlilio only amounted to that measly sum – per Comelec records. Okay, the exact amount listed is P4,761,699.90 cash coming from 56 individuals.
Here is one more case where the vaunted honesty and self-proclaimed transparency of Eddie T. Panlilio is put to severe test.
One. It must be recalled that at the time of the campaign, two bank accounts with the Philippine National Bank, Dolores branch were opened in the name of Panlilio: one peso account for local domestic contributions, one dollar account for international contributions.
It would be the height of incredulity to assume that not a single cent was deposited in these accounts. For one, group of former seminarians in the US has been vocal about its substantial contribution to the Panlilio campaign. So, why were they not included in the list of contributors?
It would be supreme stupidity to assume that being named to Panlilio “personally”, the accounts and all their contents were not meant for the gubernatorial campaign. Or were we born only yesterday?
Two. What about the proceeds from the sale of Panlilio campaign materials? No less than then staunch Panlilio supporter Rene Romero boasted before media that their campaign paraphernalia – read: T-shirts, buttons, posters, etc. – were being sold to and lapped up by their supporters.
If the Comelec missed this, then, here’s a call to the Bureau of Internal Revenue or the domestic trade office.
Three. As volunteerism was the operative word of the Panlilio campaign, so it was fueled by freebies. The campaign “Eduarters” that was the bankrupted Patria’s Restaurant was bruited about as a “donation.” So were the services of the campaign staff and their food. Motorcade field marshalls, questioned MOKA “awardee” Marni Castro and John Sambo’s recurrent mantra during the campaign was that supporters brought their own vehicles, bought their own gasoline and food.
So what are those listed expenses of P648,906 for travel, and P647,092 for campaign headquarters expenses all about? Somebody is giving us the lie here.
And that is just the easy part for Panlilio and his campaign people to answer. The more difficult one is how to answer former Congressman Willie Villarama who has raised a howl over the non-listing of his contribution to the Panlilio campaign and those he solicited from his friends, particularly businessmen from Makati?
Villarama’s fears are valid: His friends might think he did not remit to the campaign finances their donations. In the sabungero parlance, this is “Mikasipitan king parada.”
Also, is the reported “substantial donation” of top telecommunications magnate MVP true, or mere part of campaign lore? The donors’ list did not answer.
Then, where were the millions of pesos Mrs. Lolita Hizon said she gave the Panlilio campaign which she claimed in a sangguniang panlalawigan public hearing as she did not lament over despite her falling out with Panlilio? Again, the donors’ list failed to answer.
Instead of making a clean breast of the donations received by Panlilio during the campaign, the Comelec report did not only raise more questions but virtually opened a Pandora’s Box for the Reverend Governor to contain.
Honesty – and transparency – becomes truly a lonely word here.