MikeLigalig.com

By Loy Palapos
published on January 7, 2007 (before the election)

Welcoming the Year of the Red Pig through a new column, with a format that is still a novelty in the locality, ushers in good tidings for 2007, projected to be synonymous with progress by fung shui adherents. Despite the number of the hungry multiplying daily, the papers are rife with surveys encapsulating the people's hope that the economic gains reflective of the rise of the peso could trickle down to the masses. A dream that has long obsessed our guest, Atty. Victor S. de la Serna.

Having him as our “buena mano” is a personal choice based on merits. He says what he means, and means what he says. This is in utter contrast to many of our compatriots who, in an effort to earn “pogi” points, have the propensity to circumlocute and circumvent, especially on issues that push them to the wall. He does not mince words to drive home a slug. It was a rainy three-o'clock appointment that brought me to his ancestral home along Rocha Street . The setting was perfect, made more excerpts of the repartee that made us forget the time.

LMP: How would you assess politics in the Philippine setting, it being a vital factor in economic prosperity?

VSS: The golden years of Philippine politics commenced in 1946 and ended in 1965. During that time people in public office had a sense of honor, sense of service, sense of delicadeza. When Marcos took over from 1965 to 1986 the magnitude of graft and corruption escalated and people became callous to public officials getting rich and powerful while in office. Media was silent in the first few months of Martial Law, finally it became timid. Graft and corruption was institutionalized as a way of life.

LMP: Did the situation not change when Cory came?

VSS: She may have the intention after EDSA I, but she failed to appoint people who can dismantle the scenery of corruption. I don't believe Cory knew what her men were doing. The problem is she was forced to repay debts to those who helped in toppling Marcos. Enrile and Ramos, for instance, whom she made Secretary of National Defense and Chief of Staff. Both were guilty of looting our country. The members of her Cabinet were setting on top of the machinery of corruption, which was already so well established during the Marcos years. That was the failure of Cory, and the betrayal of the people who had so much faith in her, after 20 years of abuses, 20 years of dictatorship, 20 years of graft and corruption.

LMP: Was it also the same thing with her successors?

VSS: Ramos tried to do something for the good of the country, but another set of crooks began occupying positions of power. Although Estrada was also perceived as corrupt, he was the first to stop pork barrel. Gloria has been squandering our money for the congressmen, the generals, and her cabinet members.

LMP: What is then our hope for a better future?

VSS: I don't believe that within our lifetime we will see any change in our culture of corruption. I am sorry to say that the only way to end this is to kill everybody above the age of fifteen; hopefully with some good teachers left to teach the young the basic virtues. We need a benevolent dictator like Felicisimo Franco who ruled Spain for 30 years, but did not enrich himself. Or, a Mao Ze Dong who succeeded in unifying China . Or, a Fidel Castro who freed Cuba from colonialism, and instituted the best educational and health care system. Our presidents…when they assume office they are already captive of the billionaires who contributed to the campaign funds. The likes of Henry Sy, Lucio Tan, Danding Cojuangco are the big power players. Because of their influence they even dictate the terms of their taxes.

LMP: Why are you against constitutional change?

VSS: I don't believe any change in the constitution will do anything good for our country. If the change is from presidential to parliamentary, it's a big lie for anybody to say we will become rich overnight. What we need is a change of people in government. Number one is GMA.

LMP: Can you give me an update on the light and water buy-back plan?

VSS: I had a long talk with the Governor last December 31, and he told me that he will already issue the letter-offer to the stockholders, to Salcon, for the purchase of the 70% equity for Bohol Light and Bohol Water. They paid us P150 million; we return to them the said amount. What they invested, they can tax. They have declared loses every year. If they are being consistent with their theory that they are losing, for which the government has not been receiving dividends for five years, then they should give the utilities up. There is still an on-going case in court. I go to Manila at my own expense. In the last hearing I was my own lawyer and my own witness. The good thing with this buy-back plan is even the Mayor Lim is for it. Everybody is for it, except those with vested interests.

This columnist had the privilege of working with Atty. Victor de la Serna when he was the Governor of the Province of Bohol . Right upon assumption to office, he trimmed down to 400 the manpower at the Provincial offices and sections. This was at a time when the income of the province was very meager, and there was no aid from the national government. Some years later, prior to one election time, the number of Capitol employees grew to more than 3000. His change of lifestyle from his Makati office was quite a drastic ordeal, more so that the salary of the Governor then was too low compared to his earnings as a lawyer in the big city. He initiated the installation of an air-conditioning unit in the Governor's office. Media and the public howled in protest. Now, even the Barangay Captains are outdoing one another in cooling and beautifying their offices.

Atty. Victor de al Serna is a tough copy to duplicate, especially in his crusade against graft and corruption. Among a million Boholanos he was the only one who had the guts to place a big billboard at the Agora denouncing the thievery in the administration of GMA, timed when she came to visit Bohol . He is a friend to the topmost officials of the city and province, but at times when grafters rear their ugly heads, his is a voice that is relentlessly consistent against the culprits. Asked for the reason why he has been on this hazardous crusade, he answered that God has been very good to him. Not just anybody can do what he does. It needs to be done by somebody with enough educational capability, one who can spend his own money without expecting anything in return, somebody with the guts that can't be intimidated by the powers-that-be. Whatever the Almighty has bestowed unto him, he shares. The main target is public welfare. A watchdog non-parallel, he is one individual who gives everybody a glimpse of the silver lining no matter how remote it could be. (Bohol Sunday Post, January 7, 2007)

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