Corruption Clark Philippines, Philippines president Aquino unable to remove Clark Pampanga CDC president Benigno Ricafort despite fat paycheck scandal

Weathering speculations, rumors and news of impending replacement for the lucrative post of president and CEO of CDC the government owned corporation that manages bustling new city of Clark Pampanga, Benigno Ricafort still holds office.

Recently elected Philippines President Aquino has been criticized lately for failing to make something happen. Aside from major political setbacks such as the recent ruling of the Supreme Court that sank Aquino’s bid to set up a truth commission and go after the previous president for possible graft and corruption, there are smaller projects that also do not seem to meet with any luck and success.

When news broke out in August 2010 with a report published by leading newspaper of the Philippines the Inquirer, titled “Subic, Clark execs highest paid gov’t men” in which Ricafort was revealed to take home some p18 Million (among which only p2 Million is legitimately accountable as salary and expenses), observers were certain that a replacement would run Clark Development Corporation very soon. Even the successor of Ricafort was named openly but to this date, nothing has happened. (for the full story published by Philippines Daily Inquirer, visit http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100807-285364/Subic-Clark-execs-highest-paid-govt-men)

Although the dip in popularity has been minimal since he took office as president of the Philippines, confidence level of his competence and capability to lead the country along a path that would eradicate graft and corruption has dropped significantly. Replacing the CEO and the board of a government owned corporation is routine in the Philippines. Failure of his cabinet to carry out something as simple and routine as appointing a new CEO and a new board is seen as a sign of weakness of the Aquino administration.

While President Aquino procrastinates, executives of Clark Development Corporation and the members of the board of CDC continue to rake it in. According to the COA report, CDC president Benigno Ricafort was granted P10 million in “extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses” in 2009.

The general sentiments and reaction from this story among those with a vested interest in Clark Pampanga is one of hurt and disdain. One locator said “To think that we all toil and sweat each day to do our bit to make Clark more successful, it makes me angry to see a person like Ricafort plunder away money that could otherwise have gone into improving infra-structure or to promote Clark in the international community.”

EXPRESSING SHOCK at the fat paychecks, perks and bonuses enjoyed by top executives of government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs), House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II Saturday said he would call for an investigation to exact “transparency and accountability” from these officials.

“Placed in the context of poverty, rising levels of hunger and destitution, the country’s burgeoning budget deficit, and the long struggle to hurdle the economic crisis gripping the country, the granting of excessive and scandalous salaries, allowances and benefits to officials of GOCCs is scandalous at the very least,” he said.

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