Two cuts from the same pork

A CONFESSION.

“The core problem is not just the shameless corruption of a growing number of greedy corrupt officials in a system that has become corruption-friendly. The issue is the breakdown of our moral fiber as a Christian nation…

“The issue could also be the diminishing relevance and eroding credibility of moral shepherds … the failure of religion to make morality and ethics the foundation of all human actions and endeavors, after almost 500 years of Gospel presence.”

Thus Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas takes us to the pith of the P10-billion pork barrel scam.

A moral issue, above all else. And what have the people for moral guardians?

“We cannot afford to be known as a Church of denunciations and prohibitions. As we denounce evil and sin, we must, in the same breath propose imitating Christ as the only alternative to our social ills…

“Let the national news of the recent weeks about extensive corruption in governance make us more humble as moral guides and more zealous as lighthouses of morality in the midst of the storms besetting our boat. We have our own ‘pork’ to abolish so that we can be better.”

Veritably now, priests feeding on and off Janet Napoles herself. Or haven’t you noticed those video clips of reverends praying over her, fawning at her very presence? 

Even more essential, priestly pork that needed to be burned in holocaust is the effete elitism that, in Francis’ words, “clericalised” the Church as in “…come inside so we make decisions and announcements between ourselves and those who don't come in, don't belong." Ending up, vainly, “separating the people of God from salvation.”  

And the creeping materialism among the clergy, again Francis encapsulated thus: “It hurts me when I see a priest or a nun with the latest model car, you can't do this…A car is necessary to do a lot of work, but please, choose a more humble one. If you like the fancy one, just think about how many children are dying of hunger in the world.”

Flirting with mammon. That which Francis holds as “…precisely the reason for the dissatisfaction of some, who end up sad — sad priests — in some sense becoming collectors of antiques or novelties, instead of being shepherds living with ‘the smell of the sheep’.”

Inspiring in Villegas the firmest of resolves: “The fear of the Lord is our only alternative. No more complacent orderliness … we must smell like the sheep and get out of the swivel chair. No more religiosity without godliness [and] beyond knowledge of the faith, let us live it.”

Some Act of Contrition worthy of an Augustine there, if I may say.

AN ASSERTION.

Prejudged unfairly in the media-induced frenzy on the pork barrel scam.

So the Inquirer reported former Sen. Edgardo Angara as saying of the lawmakers ensnared in the scandal – “controversy” he would rather say, and rapping media for having tarred lawmakers as “evil” and NGOs as “fakes.”

“Why are senators being blamed? The world has been overturned. The implementing agencies should not pass on their responsibilities to the lawmakers,” Angara argued.

Premised, as the Inquirer story says, thus: “The Department of Budget and Management had made it a point that only government agencies or local government units should be allowed as implementing agencies (IAs) for a ‘practical reason.’  They have resident auditors outside of the regular COA.

So the lawmakers were not responsible for checking the legitimacy of NGOs as the IAs had resident auditors designated for that role.”

A legal issue, nothing else. Angara a virtual echo of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada there.

The Inquirer reported: “Angara gave P14.4 million of his pork to an NGO, Kalusugan ng Bata, Karunungan ng Bayan Inc., where he was an incorporator, stockholder and board member. In its findings, the COA said P9 million of the food packages distributed by Jeverps Enterprises was unliquidated while 20,625 of the 50,000 packs distributed were not supported by documents.”

Angara’s retort: “They did not qualify the (COA) report. They did not say any irregularity. Even if they mentioned my name, don’t jump into conclusion that I pocketed money from that.”

Some arrogant denial truly worthy of the lawyer in the once Integrated Bar of the Philippines president there.