World Bank Report: An Indictment of The Supreme Court!


“This Review identifies fiduciary failures which appear to have begun in 2010 and accelerated in 2011. From mid-2010, project decision-making became more centralized; Program Management Office (PMO) capacity deteriorated; lack of segregation of functions caused a breakdown in the internal control environment and elimination if internal checks and balances; questionable procurement and expenditure decisions led to ineligible expenditures, retroactive contracts, uncontrolled commitments, increase risks of contingent liabilities and potential for over-commitment of project funds; vendor payments were delayed; and project account difference between Court offices remained un-reconciled. As a result, the quality of project implementation and the reliability of project financial information deteriorated. Ad hoc/unplanned use of projects is exemplified by IT goods procurements during 2010-2011 – some were not agreed with the World Bank or reflected in the procurement plan or were not connected with the project developments objectives, and 62% by value was procured not for front-line judges and court personnel who desperately need such equipment for backlog reduction and case management, but for the Supreme Court and appellate courts in Manila, in small lots. A clear picture of commitments, contingent liabilities, impact of exchange rate losses and the quantum of uncommitted project funds is no longer available, and the project financial statements cannot be relied upon. The review confirms that the project fiduciary environment has deteriorated to an extent that project management, project procurement and project financial management are nor rated “high risk” and “unsatisfactory” The PMO is requested to point out any factual errors or omissions in this Review.”

The Danger of CJ Corona Acquittal!


Nothing much can be achieved in the impeachment of CJ Corona even if successful in the Senate except to sear in the public memory that a radical change in the leadership of the  Supreme Court, touted before as the “untouchable” branch of the government  is but a myth.  But surely, it will not alter the present dynamics…

When The Crooks Invoke The Rule of Law!


During the reign of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (2001-2010), Senator Ping Lacson was charged with the murder of publicist Bubby Dacer and his driver, Emmanuel Corbito.  He cried ‘political vendetta.’  He elevated his case to the Court of Appeals up to the Supreme Court and won.  He called it the triumph of  ‘the rule of law.’ By some stroke…