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Friday, June 02, 2006
Econg gets poison text messages
By Garry Cabotaje
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
Lawyer Aurora Econg has been receiving text threats on her mobile phone, which she believes could be related to her job as Talisay city legal officer and head of the bids and awards committee (BAC).
Aside from the hostile text messages, some unscrupulous individuals have reportedly been illegally soliciting money from local traders using Econg’s name, after the City Hall prohibited the practice of delivering in advance office supplies and equipment even without purchase orders.
The threatening text messages wanted Econg, a former Talisay City administrator, to resign from her post and stay away from City Hall.
“Hunong na ug panggu-kod sa imong palibot, daghan imong natumban, kung gusto pa kang mabuhi, resign sa City Hall (stop running after the people around you if you still want to live),” Econg quoted one of the text messages she got from an unknown sender.
But what really bothered Econg was the recent text threat sternly warning her that her daughter Regional Trial Court Judge Geraldine Faith Econg and her grandchild would also be harmed.
“Gisubaybayan ka namo...masakitan ra ka kay among panimaslan ang imong anak ug apo (We’re watching you. You’ll get hurt as we will also harm your daughter and grandchild),” the text message said.
Texter
The anonymous texter, who was believed to have used different SIM cards, accused Econg of assuming the functions of Mayor Socrates Fernandez and dipping her fingers into the purchases of office supplies.
Econg strongly denied these, saying she was only discharging her functions as legal officer and implementing as BAC chairman the guidelines of the Commission on Audit (COA).
According to Econg, the menacing text threats followed after she strictly imposed the mayor’s memorandum prohibiting the deliveries of office supplies and equipment without purchase orders or requests.
“Please be informed that as per COA guideline effective immediately advance deliveries of office supplies and equipment(s) are hereby prohibited except in cases of emergency as certified by the City Mayor...,” read the May 19 memorandum 2006-53.
The memo, addressed to all department and office heads, also directed the BAC, accounting and budget offices not to accept vouchers “for payment of goods delivered in advance in violation of the above-cited guideline.”
Inspection
“Thus, payments of same will be the liability of the office who accepted the advance delivery,” it said.
The memo said all purchased goods should be delivered to the General Services Office, headed by Joan Vebar, for inspection and documentation.
Purchased items classified as heavy will be delivered directly to the requesting offices in the presence of a GSO representative, it added.
“I’m very sure that it all started from here. I’m getting death threats since we started imposing the mayor’s memo. But I’m only doing this for the good of Talisay,” Econg said.
Still, Econg appeared unperturbed on this text threats as she even dismissed the idea of having for personal escorts for her safety. She vowed to continue her job.
Solicit
Meanwhile, Econg warned all Talisay City businessmen not to give anything to individuals who use her name to solicit cash money from them.
“I have to defend and clear my name. This is a warning to all businessmen in Talisay not to give to anyone that would ask for money on my behalf. I urge them call my office 272-3852,” she added.
Late last year, Econg relinquished her post as city administrator-designate so she could focus on her functions as city legal officer.
Econg then was in the thick of a legal battle defending the Talisay City’s claim of over 53.44 hectares which have allegedly been included in the development of the South Reclamation Project of Cebu City.
A self-made lawyer, Econg began serving as city legal officer during the stint of former Talisay City mayor and now Rep. Eduardo “Eddiegul” Gullas (Cebu, 1st district), who was instrumental in converting the former coastal town into a component city of Cebu in 2001.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (June 2, 2006 issue)
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