Senators also on trial

Yesterday was the moment of truth for Chief Justice Renato Corona and the senator-judges. Not only the Chief Justice but also the senators are on trial. How will they decide the case? Will they decide based on the merits or for political considerations? Will they succumb to the lobbying of both sides? Will they decide thinking of the coming elections? Will conviction or acquittal of Corona add to their chances of winning? After the senators make their decision on Corona, how will the people judge them? (This is being written on Tuesday morning, before Corona was to testify in his defense before the Senate impeachment court.)

On the part of Corona, will he tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth on his acquired assets and bank accounts? Or will he resort to legal technicalities and his right against self-incrimination? Maybe the answers will already be there by the time you read this.

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Are you tired of the impeachment trial and need some relief? Go watch “Willie Nep on Trial” at the Music Museum on Saturday, May 26, starting at 8:30 p.m. You will enjoy the new characterizations by Willie Nep, the great mimic and impersonator. Watch him parody Corona’s chief defense counsel Serafin Cuevas, Corona himself, as well as other new characters.

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Last May 14, this column tackled the LRT extension to Cavite and how the money intended for relocation of the squatters in the rail line’s right-of-way was misspent by then Cavite Gov. Ayong Maliksi. The governor sent a quick comment. In fairness to him, here it is:

“Right away, I would like to express my support for your effort to keep the public alert to irregularities committed by their elected officials. And let me add that by writing clearly and simply, you make it easy for readers to understand how important this is in a democracy. As an elected official myself, I appreciate the constant reminder that I must account for the taxpayers’ money entrusted to my disposition as a congressman now and as a former governor of Cavite from 2001 to 2010. It helps me to readily and truthfully answer questions my constituents have a right to ask.

“Therefore, please allow me to clarify certain issues mentioned in your column in order to assure taxpayers that in the development of the relocation site of the LRTA (LRT Administration) under my term as governor of Cavite, all the requirements of the law have been faithfully observed and complied with.

1. Column: “The province of Cavite and LRTA entered into an agreement in 2008 to relocate 2,000 squatter families living on the right-of-way of the proposed LRT line.”

Maliksi: “The MOA (memorandum of agreement) of Feb. 28, 2008, between the LRTA and the Province of Cavite only allows the province to identify, acquire, develop and construct a relocation site, determine its market value, the development and other acquisition costs. The identification, tagging and physical relocation of the affected settlers are sole responsibilities of LRTA.”

2. Column: “The MOA is patently illegal because under RA 8974 and its IRR (implementing rules and regulations), only the National Housing Authority (NHA) is empowered to establish and develop squatter relocation sites.”

Maliksi: “The MOA is legal. The acquisition and development of the relocation site is a component of the LRT 1 Cavite Extension project under the Aquino administration’s Private-Public Partnership (PPP) program. The PPP is governed by RA 6957.

“Under the said law, local government units are authorized to enter into contracts with any duly prequalified project proponent for the construction, among others, of a development facility through any of the projects authorized by this Act.

“The Province of Cavite, in compliance with RA 7718 and the procurement law, entered into a contract with the site developer who was declared the lowest calculated and responsive bidder during the public auction held for the project.

“The development of the relocation site was closely coordinated with the NHA (National Housing Authority).”

3. Column: “With P500 million, Cavite bought seven parcels of unconverted agricultural land totaling 20 hectares.”

Maliksi: “Of the P500 million, Cavite used P125,488,200 to buy 14 parcels of land (one residential and 13 agricultural) totaling 20 hectares.”

4. Column: “Only one of the seven parcels has a Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) and six are covered by agrarian reform Emancipation Patents (EP).”

Maliksi: “Five out of 14 parcels of land are covered by TCTs; nine are covered by EPs.

5. Column: “The parcels of land covered by EPs are covered by a 10-year transfer ban.”

Maliksi: “The transfer ban does not cover transfers to government.”

6. Column: “Less that 10 percent of the uprooted families have benefited from the relocation project.”

Maliksi: “LRTA, which has the sole responsibility for identifying and relocating affected settlers, has not yet relocated any family to the site because the project is still ongoing. While Phases 1 and 2 of the development have been completed, the Province of Cavite is still awaiting the release of the second tranche amounting to P586,601,600 from the LRTA for the completion of Phase 3.”

7. Column: “COA (Commission on Audit) disallowed P26.5 million of the provincial government’s spending on tenants’ disturbance compensation, real estate broker’s fee, capital gains tax and documentary stamps.”

Maliksi: “The same audit team prayed that the disallowance be reversed by the COA Regional Director’s Office because of the appeal by Governor Maliksi.

“Since the appeal and the answer by the COA Regional Office are still pending, the Notice of Disallowance is not final.”