No corruption in ESA, says Pepito

Money is the root of all evil, so the saying goes. The essence seems to apply to the Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA), a program aimed at alleviating the plight of typhoon Yolanda victims through cash allocation. What was supposed to be a noble project has become ugly with accusations of corruption thrown by disgruntled beneficiaries who were disqualified by eligibility guidelines.

Adding fuel to the controversy are the forthcoming elections as parties opposed to the incumbent administration capitalize on the bureaucratic complications to sow intrigue and confusion. In Ormoc, the most common allegation is that Mayor Edward C. Codilla is using the ESA funds to boost his campaign war chest.

But for City Administrator Francis Pepito, nothing could be farther from the truth. “Malisyoso man gyud na nga estorya. Para ra na sa mga way buot nga estorya. Kung paistoryahon ang naay buot, kasabot ta nga imposible na. Kasabot man ta unsang tinuod.,” he said.

Pepito explained the processes the ESA funds had to go through. “Sus, kadaghang proseso ang agian. Di man gyud na magunitan sa mayor (ang kuwarta). Diri pa lang sa atong accounting procedure, sa treasurer, labi na sa auditor, lisod na. Strikto ang mga requirements ana nila.

“Step-by-step naa gyud mga safety nets para wa gyud mawala. Bisan singko sentabos gi-trace na. Otherwise, ma-liable ta. So imposible gyud nga ang atong mga lokal nga opisyal labi na ang mayor, ang atong mga konsehales nga makakuwarta niana,” he explained.

If there is corruption in the ESA, it would be at the national level, Pepito said. “Kung hugaw-hugawaon nato ang atong huna-huna, kung ato lang malisyosohon ba, ang makakuwarta ang mga nasyonal nga opisyales. Di ba gikan man na sa General Appropriations Act? Kinsa man naghimo niana, ang Congress, di ba? Didto ang mga nakakuwarta!”  he said.

But Pepito doesn’t believe there is corruption both on the national and local levels as far as the ESA is concerned. “Pero dili man ta hugaw og huna-huna. Kita nga naay buot ug nakasabot, kahibalo ta nga nga di gyud na tinuod. Imposible na mahitabo. Imposibleng makakuwarta niana.”