NAAWAN, Misamis Oriental (MindaNews / 27 December) — There is no way to escape accountability for anyone who has done something that endangers the lives of people. The demand for accountability may come from within, from either our justice system or from one’s conscience.
The force of conscience is strong enough to throw someone into a ravine, which is a loud and clear admission for all to hear that “I am responsible and accountable.” Such was the sad, tragic plight of the highly talented Undersecretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways, Maria Catalina Cabral.
Cabral has, accordingly, institutionalized corruption in the government service when serving as the planning chief of the DPWH. She connived with lawmakers by making them budget sponsors for DPWH projects, foremost of which were in flood control, for which “commitment” of 15 -25 percent of the proposed budget is assured for each one.
To avoid alienating lawmakers whose areas have no water channels that require a flood control project, projects were proposed regardless, in the same locations as those existing or in places that don’t need them at all. The projects were not actually built but were reported as completed. Thus, they are ghost projects.
Of course, what she did – her ‘’allocable’’ system of kickback distribution had the blessings of the DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan then, who received the biggest kickbacks of them all in the Department. He managed to escape to the US with his loot before the implosion at the DPWH. Indeed, Cathy Cabral had the power of the fairy godmother who, when she waved her wand, everyone would receive a windfall of goodies.
Usec Cabral has settled her scores with her Maker.
The rest of those who made the DPWH their milking cow, like former DPWH Secretary and now Senator Mark Villar, Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Joel Villanueva, Chiz Escudero, Grace Poe, and former senators Ramon Revilla, Jr., and Nancy Binay, may troop to the Sandiganbayan, any time soon, to answer the flood of allegations against them.
You can’t run away from accountability.
(MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews.
William R. Adan, Ph.D., is retired professor and former chancellor of Mindanao State University at Naawan, Misamis Oriental.)
