THE thrust of the media broadcasters of the ATON team which is the organization for the return of Lito Coscolluela to the Provincial Capitol is to deflect the issue of the graft and corruption case that the Ombudsman has filed against Lito.

This case involves the alleged overpriced medical and farm equipments for P20 million in 2001, ironically just before Lito left the Capitol to an easy life of a non-politician.

For some reason the Ombudsman filed the case just after Lito had declared his intention to run for governor. The sleeping case had resurrected and hung a millstone over Lito’s neck especially after the Sandigan rejected Lito’s motion to dismiss.

Adding to his problems was the issuance of a hold departure order that prevented Lito from attending the important annual conference of the International Sugar Organization in London at a time when world sugar situation was volatile.

Some broadcasters opened this issue of Lito’s case and it appears to be the most serious obstacle to his candidacy. The issue in this election is not performance of which Lito has plenty to be proud of but corruption in high places in government.

A candidate cannot dodge this issue so that the broadcasters supportive of Lito shifted the blame elsewhere, charging that then Cong. Jun Lozada was the “brain” in this caper.

The money used in the purchase came from Lozada’s pork barrel so in the complaint filed by the late Dr. Patricio Tan of Graftwatch Negros, Lozada was included.

The Ombudsman, however, dismissed the charge against Lozada but found probable cause against Lito and four others in the Capitol.

The case slept in the Ombudsman until last year when it suddenly was filed by the Ombudsman before the Sandigan and an order for his arrest was issued.

Lito moved for reconsideration but his motion was denied and he was allowed bail although a hold departure order was issued against him.

Surely Lito would not escape as he believes that he can prove his innocence. In the meantime, Lito, as I wrote earlier, has to campaign with one hand tied.

Deflecting the guilt from Lito to Lozada who is running for the Senate, is a difficult and dangerous game because Lozada can strike back. After all, he has been exonerated and the accusation against him no longer holds.

Shifting the blame to someone else who had been declared innocent only exacerbate Lito’s culpability and tarnishes his image as a fair and honest man.

By blaming Lozada, the media handlers of Lito will create the impression that Lito is indeed guilty because instead of explaining to the electorate that this case has no leg to stand on, he is seen as hiding behind Lozada.

The opposite camp is making hay with this case and rightly so because this is where Lito is most vulnerable. All through his administration of the province, ever since he was vice governor, he had not been tainted with any allegations of graft.

But this time, this is no longer a matter of innuendoes or black propaganda but a serious case filed by the Ombudsman and that carries a lot of weight in the people’s mind.
Finger-pointing never works./PN