Back in 2000, as a classy top Bicol LGU executive, he was named the awardee for Government Service by the Ramon Magsaysay Foundation, Asia's Nobel Prize.

By Asian standards, DILG Secretary Jesse M. Robredo, is world-class of the first order. He proved a local government can both be efficient and graft-free at the same time.

With President Aquino's deep-seated crusade versus corruption, doubt there was precious little, that Robredo would be appointed DILG chieftain. Applause everywhere.

His new Memorandum dated August 31, 2010 No 2010-03 addressed to governors, mayors and local legislatures – a virtual battle cry for transparency – defines him.

Under the "Robredo Memo," by September 17, 2010, all LGUs must have established their own Websites – accessible to every living Filipino. Thirty days after the end of December 2010, they are mandated to publish 12 pieces of documents – all calibrated to be there for a reason. Taken as a whole, they will expose the financial cadaver of the LGU for all the world to see. No room for hanky panky.

The required documents are: The 2010 Annual Budget, Quarterly Statement of Cash Flows, 2010 Statement of Receipts and Disbursements, 2010 Trust Fund (PDAF) utilization, 2010 Special Education Fund Utilization, 2010 20% Component of the IRA Utilization; 2010 Gender and Development Fund Utilization, 2010 Statement of Debt Summary, 2010 Annual Procurement Fund or Procurement List, Items to Bid, Bid Results or Civil Work Goods And Service Summary, and Abstract of Bids Accomplished.

The cash flow statements will establish the paper trail of fund usage, the Statement of Funds over some programs will monitor their proper usage as envisioned in the creation of such fund, the debt service will describe improper usage of outside financing, the procurement list will invite independent bidders and the actual bidding and results will expose rigging especially because of the existence of a Government Procurement inventory matrix that defines the going price rates ranging from cement, iron steel to computers to paper clips and ballpens.

To the corrupt local officials, Robredo is Mr. Undertaker and Mr. Pallbearer rolled into one – ready to bury the grafters into their graveyards in the Cemetery of the Crooks.

That is why, many of them are aching to find fault with Robredo (including the last hostage crisis) and pounce on him before he breaks the Mafia of corruption in their midst.

Many corrupt LGU officers and their conniving private sector suppliers and contractors are dying to get Jesse "James" Robredo out of the way because he is like crucifix to them (Dracula).

They are moving heaven and earth (and part of hell) of enlarge Robredo's role in the Qurino Grandstand Fiasco even though the police aspect is just an equal part of the DILG function and is largely supervised by the PNP and the Napolcom. It is obvious what motives some of them have.

Many local officials are seated on their throne – big-time thieves who are seemingly untouchable. They have kept their illegal activities in office under the radar of the national media - by sliding under it or sliding money into some pockets.

Some of them have kept the Ombudsman at bay – with retainer and per case fees in the millions of pesos to keep their heads from the gallows. For years, they have short-circuited the Ombudsman. But, they can only push their luck so much.

The "Robredo Memo" will provide government with hard evidence to pin them down – in fact this time any citizen can cry foul after seeing the shenanigans over their Websites. The DILG has the power to suspend erring LGU officers on the basis of non-compliance with DILG directives.

People know who the dirty local officials but many have kept quiet due to intimidation, the interest of peace and others because they materially benefit from the structure of power and privilege. Their day of reckoning will come.

And the tough DILG top honcho is not going to humor them with kids' gloves. Robredo has his marching orders from PNoy and his position – and reputation – is on the line.

PNoy says "it is not going to be business as usual" – and he means business.

The way we look at it , like the Panzer division tanks in World War II doing a "pincher attack" of the enemy, the government will operate in many fronts – strangling the enemy in between.

With the LGU Website, civil society and media on one side – the other side of the "Truth Commission" and the "Freedom of Information Bill" will hem in the grafters till they run weeping in their pants to their mothers.

The Truth Commission an appendage of the Department of Justice will short-circuit the widely known bias of the Ombudsman; the Freedom of Information Act (if approved to law) will give 30 days for the Ombudsman to force an LGU to produce ANY public document sought by ANY citizen of the country from their government.

This combined government-private sector endeavor may yet perhaps end the prostitution of our institutions of justice which made them dysfunctional.

And since P-Noy had identified corruption as the cause of poverty in the nation, having a Sir Galahad at the DILG is important, working style differences and a one-time hostage fiasco notwithstanding.

First things first.