What ye sow...

DÉJÀ VU?

Empty city coffers made the headlines of the day the three-term congressman of the 3^rd District, the Honorable Oscar Samson Rodriguez, assumed the mayorship of the City of San Fernando in 2004.

Why, it was even loudly bruited about that Rodriguez’s predecessor to the mayorship and successor to the House, the equally Honorable Dr. Reynaldo Bondoc Aquino, left no more than 30 miserable pesos for supplies – not even enough to buy a decent signing pen – until the next budget allocation.

Thence commenced the demonization of Aquino that, arguably, served as the most devastating infliction leading to his political demise – losing to Rodriguez in the grudge fight for the mayorship in 2007, and then, notwithstanding his presidency of the PhilHealth at the heyday of GMA, losing again to Rodriguez – in the person of his protégé Edwin Santiago – last May.            

So it was on the proven failings in fiscal administration and perceived instances of graft and corruption by the Aquino administration that Rodriguez founded his doctrine of good governance at city hall, proclaimed, promoted and practiced in the performance government system that earned countless awards of recognition for Rodriguez as well as for the city at the national, even international levels.

No matter of conjecture but of consequence then is the chairmanship of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability bestowed – on a silver platter – upon Congressman Rodriguez, the very avatar of everything good in governance.

It has been but over a month since Santiago took over the reins of city hall from the highly acclaimed Rodriguez, already some cracks are showing in the good government façade he so laboriously – and so gloriously – built.

So what was done to Aquino, so shall be done to Rodriguez? Some karmic cycle in the offing here?

The city council is astir over allegedly “un-reconciled differences in the balance sheet of the General Fund.”

News stories – principally from Sun-Star Pampanga -- emanating from city hall, citing Councilor Joselito Ocampo of the Committee on Good Government, Public Ethics and Accountability, reported: 

“According to the city accountant and treasurer, the estimated cash balance as of December 31 (net of fixed expenses and contractual obligations) that will be used to finance LGU programs and projects amounts to P188,522,983. Actual cash as of June 30, as the treasurer reported is P360,303,960, but the accountant reported that it is P73,783,062. The difference of P286,520,898 has to be reconciled by the treasurer together with the accountant.”

That’s not just simply irreconcilable, but a hell of a difference there.

The fires stoked further with “the cash flow from July 1 to December 31 this year, in which the treasurer’s report was indicated as ‘official’ and the accountant’s report as ‘unofficial’…”

Some gobbledygook that can only mean to confuse, if not to cover up. Finding some credence in the failure of the city accountant, one Giselle Rivera, to attend a council inquiry “in aid of legislation” – but naturally – on the city’s financial status.

Why did she not attend, despite the mayor’s imprimatur for her to? The plot thickens here.

How explain – cried Councilors Nelson Lingat and Noel Tulabut – “advances to  contractors and employees, and significant inventories of gasoline, medicines, construction materials and office supplies among many others, amounting to P153,236,732.”

Asked they: “Why maintain significant inventories of these? Where are they located? Why give advances to contractors? Why is there a continuous purchase of such items to date?”

Declared Vice Mayor Jimmy Lazatin: “It is the right of every Fernandino to know about the financial status of the city. Just what will we tell them when they ask about it? This is the very essence of the inquiry. It must be established soon so we can move ahead with our mandate to serve our constituents.”

Valid issues there. And what has the mayor to say?

“The city council inquiry is just right. It is in line with due processes and principles of transparency. Everything will be reconciled, we’re certain of that.” So was quoted Santiago and his administrator Ferdnando Limbitco as saying.

Yeah, everything better be reconciled, perfectly and fast. Else all that good government, all that performance government system so hallowed in the administration of the Honorable Oscar S. Rodriguez would mean no more than illusions at best, pretensions at worst.

And total vindication for the mayor doctor.