Valencia denies Provincial Board summons Marañon

LAWYER Jose Maria Valencia, spokesperson of Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., denied that the governor was invited by the Negros Occidental Provincial Board on Thursday “to shed light on the sheep procurement issue.”

“This is just a ploy, a desperate propaganda. That’s what they are good at - disinformation,” Valencia said.

Valencia said the text messages sent to members of the media were meant to confuse the public saying that Marañon was invited along with provincial veterinarian Dr. Renante Decena to a special Provincial Board session on Thursday regarding the controversial overpriced sheep.

He added that he does not believe the honorable members of the Board will go to such length as summoning the presence of the governor to their session.

He further explained that in the first place, the Provincial Board has no legal ground to summon the local chief executive.

"In the absence of the good governor, especially on legal matters, I will be responding to them. If I am not available because I also have field work every now and then, there will be Atty. Pauline Nuega to pinch hit for me,” Valencia said.

Provincial Administrator Enrique Pinongan will be on hand to respond to queries regarding the day-to-day Capitol operations, as he usually does, Valencia added.

Marañon, according to Valencia, is out of town for projects.
Meanwhile, Board Member Patrick Lacson, who is with the camp of Marañon's rival Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez, questioned the governor's appointment of spokespersons.

“Answer allegations. No need for spokespersons. Why all of a sudden a very vocal chief executive needed a spokesperson? (And) three spokespersons at that when he’s capable of answering them himself? Or perhaps he’s not?” Lacson said.

“Is there truth to the allegations of the town mayor regarding the overpriced sheep? The answer is simply a yes or no. I wish that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan can take this up as soon as possible and conduct an investigation," Lacson added.

He further pointed out that he, along with the other board members, approved the loan for the purchase of cattle and sheep for the Food Sufficiency Program of the province, trusting that it will benefit the people.

"But if indeed there was overpricing on the purchase of the sheep, then we should hold the government officials responsible for this accountable. Dr. Renante Decena, being the provincial veterinarian, should shed light on this. I call on concerned citizens to be vigilant and help us ensure that basic services are delivered to them without being short-changed," Lacson added. (TDE)