Travel talk: Also check lawmakers’ trips

The MPLA is once again in the headlines; this time, it’s travel. The OPA report revealed exorbitant travel expenses of MPLA board and employees. I applaud the Administration and OPA in their new quest to address graft and corruption in the government. I urge that if found guilty of this crime, these individuals be prosecuted.

While “travel” is still hot, I request that the Administration and OPA to extend their audit on travel to the Legislature. We cannot limit our review of travel expenses to government agencies only, the Legislators should not be immune from public scrutiny. They are the biggest spender of public funds. Talk about austerity on travel! Lately, several senators and congressmen traveled to the Philippines and Hawaii, for what? We’ve heard what MPLA officials do when they travel. Do you think legislators do things differently? No, they don’t, they’re the same. They will appear for one to two hours in a conference or workshop and disappear. They’ll go shopping, visit relatives, or do monkey business, especially in the Philippines. As all of us know, the Philippines is what our local men name it, “lanchu,” “bula minagof.” I know a lot of our legislators who frequent this place and I know the readers know who I am talking about. These legislators go there for “minagof” which is very, very cheap. The thing I am talking about is not only human beings but also drugs.

I admire you Congressman Stanley Torres when you hunt illegal doers, in public and private entities. It’s time that you do the same to your colleagues. Expose them and let them be responsible for their actions in misusing public funds and being “high” at the expense of the people. It’s the opportune time to bring this matter up to OPA and to the AG.

We are suffering because of what our government is imposing on us, high cost of power, high cost of goods, high cost of fuel, and low salary. The government tells us hold on tight, cut costs, cut your expenses, for better times. I have faith that better times will come, but how soon? It will not be soon because of government officials, especially our legislators, who continue to spend lavishly on travels. Look at future travels, see who are going and where? Are these travels justified! Review previous travels of these legislators and see how frequent they go, and where! By looking at all these things you can tell what I mean.