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.”

Legal Fornication, aka, RP Judicial System!


According to Newsbreak, the Sandiganbayan has withdrawn the arrest issued against Jaime Dichaves, co-defendant of former President Joseph Estrada in the plunder of P4.1 billion in 2002. Dichaves was abroad and probably had left after he was impleaded as co-defendant  of the former President.   The recall of the warrant was issued “in absentia.” Just like what the Court…

The Ghost of UP Malcolm Hall!


Malcolm Hall houses  the UP College of Law in Diliman, Quezon City.  It was named after Justice George Malcolm of the colonial Supreme Court.  Though the college  was established in 1911 at UP Padre Faura,  it was only in 1948 where its facilities and its huge law library were transferred to its present site in UP Diliman Campus.…

Sara Duterte, Chip From The Old Block: A Third World Construct!


It is said that in the first world countries, (rich countries) conflict resolution is handled in functioning institutions, in the third world,  on personal impulses or caprice of their leaders or warlords, which invariably results in a bloodbath. The impersonal institution is substituted by personal predilections, process is less circuitous and the conflict is addressed…