Those non-existent ‘NGOs’

CMFR File Photo.

CHEERS TO CNN Philippines’ Network News for reminding the public that there are other “questionable,” even non- existent non-government organizations (NGOs), not linked to Janet Lim-Napoles, but which were also involved in the pork barrel scam, and of the need to monitor the “progress or the apparent lack of it in efforts to go after” the government officials and private individuals who stole public funds.

The three-part series “The other Napoleses” aired on April 8 to 10. It looked into the “complicated web” of “NGOs” which misused the Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) and abused the system.” The report identified the people behind the said NGOs, the other NGOs they manage, and how the group works. It also mentioned how these NGOs cornered PDAF allocations from lawmakers and implementing agencies. CNN Philippines described the operation as the “second biggest network next to the group that included NGOs linked to Janet Napoles.”

Network News visited the offices of these NGOs and found that they are all non-existent. The series also checked the implementation of the PDAF projects, if at all these were implemented.

The three-part series noted how the lack of whistleblowers, witnesses, and/or investigators has made it difficult to move forward with the cases against NGOs not linked to Napoles.

Network News interviewed members of the House of Representatives, the Department of Justice and Malacañang officials, a political science professor, a physics professor who analyzed the Commission on Audit (COA) report, the president of the Association of Barangay Captains in Misamis Oriental, and obtained data from the Commission on Audit and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Rappler.com also released a report on Janet’s daughter Jeane Napoles’ return to the country pending her Php 17-million tax evasion case. (“Jeane Napoles back in PH, on lookout list“, March 20)

PJR Reports previously cited the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism and GMA News and Public Affairs, Special Assignments Team, and News Research for their comprehensive reports on the pork barrel system and the role of NGOs in corruption. (“Pork and Plunder: Media in aid of public outrage”, Media Times)