A LOT of Provincial Capitol employees reacted with disdain after reading my column last week which dwells on the anomalous purchase of Autoclave Machine intended for Passi City Hospital.

The column is entitled “To die like Christ.” It connotes a situation depicting this writer as a bed-ridden governor wishing that before he died, two of his trusted Capitol lieutenants must be at his bedsides as he wants to die like Christ.

Well, as the story goes, the two corrupt lieutenants are emboldened-stooges who pounce on Capitol coffers for every chance they get. Thus, as their governor, I want to die with them like Jesus Christ who died on the cross between two thieves!

Capitol employees knew who these people are. As a matter of fact, even the elevator boy knew who are the men referred into. One is Kuya-Bog, the other is Mister Cutter. At one time when asked if Kuya-Bog has already gone upstairs, the boy said he took a ride in another elevator going up.

Mister Cutter on the other hand, is a friend of Midas. In a legend, Midas is the man who turns into gold everything he touches. Thus, Mister Cutter who was once a very simple person is now a man glittered with gold as if a patient suffering from hepathitis!

These two have subordinates especially at the General Services Office (GSO) known as foot-soldiers with pretty-bad money-making habit. This group is another syndicate the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has to deal with.

Few ministers (ranking officials) of the kingdom by the river (Capitol) sought to dissect the motivation for the slander of the GSO by this writer. Playing innocent? This office is now getting closer to become un departamento de los ladrones – a department of thieves!

Crooks even wonder how this writer acquired the documents that got them the spanking they deserved for being stupid. They failed to understand that when there is smoke, there is fire!

Look, department head-members of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) who are responsible in this autoclave deal are: Ramy Salcedo the chairman who also heads the GSO. Then Elena Lim of the Budget department.

Third is Graciano Lucero, the man from the Engineering whom I believed has no hands in that deal but being a BAC member, was dragged by COA. Next is a certain Corazon from the Provincial Treasurer’s Office and Atty. Salvador Cabaluna III of the legal who happens to be absent.

Surprisingly, Manuel “Boy” Mejorada and Levy Buenavista were also listed as members of the BAC when they are co-terminus with the governor. So how could it be? Well, that amor nummi – love of money has put them also in COA’s list of responsible officials.

Perhaps the COA’s findings would now encourage Gov. Niel Tupas to intervene in this messier mess. Look, only Atty. Cabaluna III was exonerated from the charges. Perhaps he’s the only good one in a room full of cheats!

The Autoclave Machine was found an obsolete model, locally made, non-functional and has difficulty in parts replacement once it bogs down. No wonder, the supplier had a verbal tussle with a lady staff who refused to sign her inspection re[port of the item.

Salcedo should know that aliud est celare, aliud tacere – to conceal is one thing, to be silent is another. Jurisprudence dictates, to conceal a fraud is fraud and lex apostata – a thing contrary to law. Now except for Atty. Cabaluna, every BAC member has a lot of explaining to do!

This saddening event happened in the kingdom by the river as Gov. Tupas’ term nears its end. The 2010 is too near that crooks are busy making money quovis modo – in whatever way or manner as if passengers catching the last plane out!.

Buenavista and Mejorada may falter during confrontation with Gov. Tupas, but that is understandable. Why? They stabbed him at the back in this autoclave deal. Well, Court is guided by the jurisprudence borne from experience that perfect testimonies cannot be expected from imperfect senses! (Pp vs. Sahagun, 274 SCRA 208).

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