PMAers
speak up
9:15
pm | Sunday, October 27th, 2013
5 481 471
For
many years, the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association Inc.
was largely a social club attending to homecoming affairs held
annually during the month of February. Parades, class gatherings,
picnics and donations for Fort Del Pilar were the order of the day
insofar as homecoming activities were concerned. The association
honored silver and golden jubilarians, as well as prominent alumni
who distinguished themselves in various fields of endeavor,
particularly those that rose to high positions in the military
organization. There were programs that aimed to promote
professionalism in the service but these were few and far between.
When
it came to crucial issues of national concern, the association
remained silent as though it had nothing to contribute to the
exchange of ideas and views in our society. This state of affairs was
the result of an association dominated by officers on active duty who
are not allowed to publicly express their views on political matters,
especially when they contradict official government policy. Neither
are they allowed to air their grievances except through the
established chain of command. Any violation of this principle could
result in disciplinary action, including a possible court martial.
A
good example of this reticence to speak up has to do with the
“revolving door” policy of the government as it concerns the term
of office of the AFP chief of staff. For more than a decade now we
have had AFP chiefs serving, on the average, for 12 months at a time.
Because of the rapid turnover at the top, appointments in many key
positions below such as the head of the Western Mindanao Command,
Eastern Mindanao Command, Central Command in the Visayas, the
superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and other
major commands are basically short-term assignments. The commander
has very little time to engage in meaningful planning of long-term
projects that could very well bear fruit in the future.
Incidentally,
our barangay chiefs, who will be elected today, will serve for a
fixed term of three years.
One
glaring anomaly that I have raised a number of times concerns the
appointment of the head of the PMA. This premier military institution
of the land, an institution that produces most of the key leaders of
our armed forces, is headed by officials on the verge of retirement.
The current superintendent retires in February after less than a year
in office. He leaves without seeing any class graduate. His
predecessor had even less time, staying at his post for only five
months before retirement.
What
was on the minds of our military leaders when these appointments were
made? Certainly it was not the best interests of the institution.
Just what can one expect from officers who are marking time prior to
starting a new chapter in their lives?
And
so, it is left to retired PMA graduates no longer in the active
service, or in government, to speak up for their fellow alumni who
share similar sentiments.
This
is their voice.
A
CALL FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE
Cognizant
of the maxim that PUBLIC OFFICE IS A PUBLIC TRUST;
Conscious
of the desire of the Filipino people for reform, transparency, and
accountability in government operations;
Mindful
of the negative long-term implication to peace and order and national
security of the improper use of public funds and the non-adherence to
accountability of public officials;
Aware
of the current issues against the Congressional Priority Development
Assistance Fund (PDAF), the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP)
and the off-budget Presidential special funds, consisting of the
Malampaya Fund, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation
(PAGCOR) Fund, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Fund
and the Road Users Tax Fund;
Knowing
that the current issues are a result of a systems failure in
governance, exacerbated by a breach of ethical standards by some
public officials; and
Believing
that national progress and the upliftment of the quality of life of
all Filipinos, especially the less fortunate in society, can be
better achieved if public funds are properly used;
We,
the PMA Alumni Advocacy Group, composed of graduates of the
Philippine Military Academy who are no longer in active service,
hereby strongly recommend that:
1.
The Congress and the President of the Philippines totally abolish the
Congressional Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or “pork
barrel funds” in whatever form;
2.
The President of the Philippines discontinue the Disbursement
Acceleration Program (DAP);
3.
The President submit all unbudgeted funds, like the Malampaya Fund,
the Road Users Tax, and the social funds from the PAGCOR and the
PCSO, to the budgetary process and oversight power of Congress;
4.
The Congress of the Philippines, in turn, provide the President with
enough funds to deal with calamities and other contingencies, subject
to its oversight power;
5.
The Congress enact a law which provides that all revenues of the
government from whatever source, including but not limited to the
Malampaya Fund, the Road Users Tax, the PAGCOR Fund, and the PCSO
Fund, be deposited in the National Treasury to be spent only as may
be provided in the yearly General Appropriations Act, repealing or
amending as necessary existing laws and Presidential issuances to the
contrary;
6.
Public officials who have been implicated in the misuse of their
“pork barrel funds,” and/or in amassing wealth illegally in
violation of the anti-plunder or anti-graft laws, take a leave of
absence or resign from their positions, without prejudice to their
prosecution for criminal offense as may be warranted;
7.
The Judiciary of the Philippines, led by the Supreme Court, initiate
reforms within its ranks to ensure speedy and impartial trial to
punish the guilty and clear the innocent; and
8.
All public officials, including members of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), set the correct example in good
governance, perform their duties as protectors of the people and the
State, and not use their office as an opportunity to amass wealth
illegally.
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