Lray and Migz Villafuerte must be extremely gifted magicians, if the stories that common folk in Camarines Sur tell is true.
While they can’t levitate trucks or get out of unbreakable restraints, legend has it that they can make tons of government money disappear with a flick of the wrist.
Personally, I have a hard time believing such fanciful tales from common ordinary folk. Knowing the culture of distrust upon which most of our laws and safeguards against corruption are built, I know that it takes an extra ordinary amount of resources and manpower to spirit away government funds.
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And yet… and yet… It happens.
Recently, a friend from Naga sent me a couple of documents, which on the face of it makes it appear that a 2012 report from the Commission on Audit says that a project to renovate the Camarines Sur Provincial Capitol Building did not materialize despite government funds having been released for the project.
An excerpt from the report reads, “The construction and improvement of the Provincial Governmanet of Camarines Sur (PGCS) buildings/offices as embodied in in the annual Investment Plan from CYs 2010 to 2012 and Provincial Development Investment Program for CYs 2011 – 2013 were not implemented by the Province, thus, depriving its officials and employees, stakeholders as well as the visiting tourists from the benefits of having a decent venue and healthy working environment.”
How much money was allotted for the said renovation of the provincial capitol building and offices?
Oh well… just about a quarter of a billion pesos or P 230 Million to be exact.
That’s nearly five times the amount of money that needs to be stolen from public coffers to make a case for economic plunder!
Pictures from the report show the dangerously decrepit state of the capitol buildings and offices.
Windows rusted shut, concrete eaves and awnings cracked and unpainted, floor tiles chipped, urinals missing or clogged up, paint chipped and peeling all over, and the road leading to the capitol building pretty much unpaved.
I just can’t believe that P230 million was given to the Camarines Sur local government and then nothing happened!
Maybe the renovations were actually accomplished but for some reason, these renovations rapidly deteriorated and the buildings came into a state of disrepair.
Or maybe, just maybe… is it more likely that the money was taken and spent on something else? But that would be malversation wouldn’t it?
If the money had indeed been misspent or, God forbid, stolen… why hasn’t the COA, DILG, and Ombudsman done anything about it?
But alas! It seems nothing ever happens to allegations of corruption against the Villafuertes and it looks like this reputation is solidly in place almost three years into the no nonsense Duterte administration.
Writer.
LENILUTONG LUGAW MOST CORRUPT PERSON NEXT TO MADPNOY KULANGKULANG99 CREATOR OF A MILLION PILIPINO ADDICTS
Heard all the finest Beach Resorts and most beaches in CamSur are owned by Villafuertes. Doesn’t take a genius to figure it all out!
Do not believe in hearsay. Always believe when they have proof to show you.
We have still corruption on the high levels of government. Unless, we the taxpayers will demand, where our money was spent. The corruption and thievery, will continue to happen.
Mar Roxas, who stole the Typhoon Yolanda Fund, is still not investigated, where he hid the Fund. Former COMELEC Chief, Andres Bautista, will billions of pesos of multiple bank accounts, is enjoying his loots. The DAP and PDAF of Aquino and Abad, are still unaccounted for. Both of these crooks, are enjoying their retirements.
The Ombudsman Court under Judge Carpio Morales, is doing nothing; even doing “selective justice” on these cases.
The Villafuertes are the political power in Camarines Sur. Does this means, they can do anything with our tax money ?
It is unfortunate for the people of Camarines Sur, to suffer, from these corrupt and thieving leaders. However, we all deserve what we got, if we don’t act. Don’t wait for the government to act.
Just to clear up the mess, unang una, the friend of yours is from Naga City, which is a chartered City. Ibig sabihin hindi kasama ang Naga City sa governance ng Province ng Camarines kasi Independent City sila, so ang punto, anong alam ng friend mo sa palakad ng Probinsya? Pangalawa, It was just an Investment Plan. Ibig sabihin plano palang. So ngayon, kung talagang nareleasan ng pondo ang Camarines para sa pampa renovate ng building nasaan ang Purchase Request, Bidding, and Program of Works? Saka Naka post ba to sa PhilGep? Asan ang documento na nagsasaad na nag disbursed ng pera para sa renovation? Kasi what you have is just the Investment Plan. And lastly, kung talagang may anomalya sa pondo, asan ang pagpapatunay ng COA? walang mairelease na documents sila kasi wala naman talgang nagastos na pera. Para lang tong swimming ng barkada, madalas “DRAWING.” Puro plano, hindi naman nagagawa. So kung walang nagawa di ibig sabihin walang nagastos.
Just to clear up the mess, unang una, the friend of yours is from Naga City, which is a chartered City. Ibig sabihin hindi kasama ang Naga City sa governance ng Province ng Camarines kasi Independent City sila, so ang punto, anong alam ng friend mo sa palakad ng Probinsya? Pangalawa, It was just an Investment Plan. Ibig sabihin plano palang. So ngayon, kung talagang nareleasan ng pondo ang Camarines para sa pampa renovate ng building nasaan ang Purchase Request, Bidding, and Program of Works? Saka Naka post ba to sa PhilGep? Asan ang documento na nagsasaad na nag disbursed ng pera para sa renovation? Kasi what you have is just the Investment Plan. And lastly, kung talagang may anomalya sa pondo, asan ang pagpapatunay ng COA? walang mairelease na documents sila kasi wala naman talgang nagastos na pera. Para lang tong swimming ng barkada, madalas “DRAWING.” Puro plano, hindi naman nagagawa. So kung walang nagawa di ibig sabihin walang nagastos.
annual plan palang yung costing of budget yung 230 million na sinasabi niyo is hindi pa hawak ng provincial government of camarines sur. asan ba yung proofs niyo na na irelease ang pera allocation lang yan. for all and for most kung nagkaroon man ng anumalya bakit until now tahimik pa ang COA ibig sabihin walang nangyaring ganun. almost 7 yrs na nakalipas yan and hindi pa si migz ang governor nun. gosh people! correction ang naga ay hindi na sakop ng Provincial government kasi chartered City ang naga di sila nag vovote for governor o kaya lumaban for governor ang taga Naga.
Wala naman proof na nagrelease ng pera. Wala din supporting documents na naapprove ung plan for the reconstruction.
How can that be called “misspent” when there is no amount released.
Just to clear up the mess, unang una, the friend of yours is from Naga City, which is a chartered City. Ibig sabihin hindi kasama ang Naga City sa governance ng Province ng Camarines Sur kasi Independent City sila, so ang punto, anong alam ng friend mo sa palakad ng Probinsya? Pangalawa, It was just an Investment Plan. Ibig sabihin plano palang. So ngayon, kung talagang nareleasan ng pondo ang Camarines Sur para sa pampa renovate ng building nasaan ang Purchase Request, Bidding, and Program of Works? Saka Naka post ba to sa PhilGep? Asan ang documento na nagsasaad na nag disbursed ng pera para sa renovation? Kasi what you have is just the Investment Plan. And lastly, kung talagang may anomalya sa pondo, asan ang pagpapatunay ng COA? walang mairelease na documents sila kasi wala naman talgang nagastos na pera. Para lang tong swimming ng barkada, madalas “DRAWING.” Puro plano, hindi naman nagagawa. So kung walang nagawa di ibig sabihin walang nagastos.
Juan, are you really serious with that question? It seems quite ignorant because the COA made the report based on documents that funds were released. You can ask for those documents.
Nasaan ba ang COA
The report was from COA, and it says “were not implemented”. COA’s work is post audit, so it means the fund was released but was not used for the intended purpose. That explains the text “were not implemented”. So, where is the money and where is the merchandise?
COA is just an agency that audits other agencies. If there are discrepancies in an agency’s report and if there’s proof that malversation of public funds have been done, what this agency will do is to submit a report to the ombudsman. Ang ombudsman naman will take a look into the case an will likely file a case against anyone involved.
As far as I know, nakasubmit na yan sa office ng ombudsman and under incestigation.
Ngayon, maawa kayo sa nag-audit nyan. Ang alam ko may mga nangyari nang hindi maganda sakanya.
Dun naman sa idinawit si VP Leni sa issue na to, sana sir/mam mag-isip ka muna. Chartered city ang Naga, which means Naga City lang ang hawak ni Mam Leni. Although before pa sya pumasok sa pulitika dati rin syang tumutulong-tulong sa ibang municipalities near Naga.
Besides, alam naman sa buong Cam Sur na hindi maganda ang relationship b/w these two prominent families. Kaya next time, mag-isip.
The magician and the politician have much in common: they both have to draw our attention away from what they are really doing.