AQUINO 'RED CARPET'
[PHOTO - President Benigno
Aquino III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO]
MANILA, MARCH 7, 2012 (INQUIRER) By Fe Zamora, Marlon R. Ramos -
They may have spent close to P2 million for the visit of President Benigno
Aquino III lasting just a few hours but that doesn't mean they were not adhering
to his policy of following the "matuwid na daan," or the righteous path.
Interviewed on Radyo Inquirer Monday, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor)
spokesperson, Superintendent Richard Schwarzkopf, confirmed that "more or less"
that amount was spent in three days of preparations for Mr. Aquino's visit to
the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) on January 27.
The presidential visit marked the launch of the "BuCor 2012 Road Map," a
10-year prison reform program.
Schwarzkopf said the meetings prior to the project's launch "were attended
not just by more than 1,000 employees of BuCor, but also representatives of
religious groups, nongovernment organizations."
He said the BuCor would not engage in excessive spending because "we follow
the matuwid na daan policy of President Aquino."
The launch of the project coincided with a government program against
frivolous spending.
P221,000 for meals
Documents obtained by the Philippine Daily Inquirer showed that the BuCor
spent over P576,000 for the printing of tarpaulin banners and P203,700 to rent
the carpet used at the event. The documents also showed the BuCor paid P450,000
for the rental of an air-conditioned tent and P221,000 for meals for the launch.
The BuCor has a daily budget of P50 for every inmate.
On a separate issue, Schwarzkopf denied reports the BuCor had cut more than
50 century-old trees at the vast government reservation, saying if that were
true, "the streets here should be wider."
He also dismissed as "old issues" claims that VIP prisoners were allowed to
live in "kubol" (huts), instead of in cells with other inmates.
"The kubols have been restructured. In the past, it was used only by one
prisoner. Now it's occupied by six to 10 prisoners," he said.
'Taken for a ride'
At the Department of Justice (DOJ), a lawyer on Monday walked out of a
fact-finding investigation into alleged anomalies in BuCor.
Saying he could not stand hearing "nonsensical questions," an incensed Alan
Paguia left the closed-door proceedings presided over by Muntinlupa City
Prosecutor Edwin Togonon barely 20 minutes after the investigation started.
Paguia, whose eight-year suspension from law practice for unethical behavior
was lifted by the Supreme Court last October, also accused the DOJ panel of
"taking us for a ride" purportedly to protect embattled BuCor Director
Gardenia Pangilinan Jr.
"I wanted to do a Miriam. But I'm no Miriam," Paguia told reporters,
referring to Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago's berating of the prosecution
panel last week during the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.
Losing his cool
Paguia said he lost his cool when Togonan started "grilling" a BuCor prison
guard, Kabungsuan Makilala, on matters not related to the latter's complaint
against Pangilinan.
"This panel is not credible and my evidence is the questions they were
asking, which had no connection with (Makilala's) complaint," Paguia said.
In his formal complaint, Makilala accused the BuCor chief of entering into a
P16-million catering contract with a private company without the approval of
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.
"They were beating around the bush. Sorry. But I cannot stand hearing
nonsensical questions. I have no patience for that," Paguia said.
He also questioned why the investigation was held behind closed doors and
insisted the public "has the right to know what's happening in the proceedings."
He likewise assailed Togonon for supposedly not answering questions on why
Pangilinan did not attend the investigation.
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
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