Thursday, April 26, 2007
Former councilor asks Mayor Soc to account for Inasal expenses
TO put an end to the fierce verbal exchange between two reelectionist councilors, a veteran local legislator called on Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez to publicly show the expenses of the 2005 Inasal Festival.
“This is the only way to dispel public perception that some had enriched themselves through the staging of the Inasal Festival,” said former councilor Severino Tabasa.
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Tabasa, a former ally of Fernandez, said the mayor must take immediate action on the matter because this has created doubts on his management of City Hall funds.
Word war
Reelectionist Councilors Alan Bucao and Shirley Belleza, running under two separate political camps, are locked in a word war over the alleged non-accounting of the expenses and cash advances for the 2005 Inasal Festival.
Bucao, of the Lakas-CMD, criticized Belleza in his campaign sorties for the unliquidated P3.7 million for the festival.
But Belleza, the event chairperson, strongly denied this and dared Bucao to file a formal complaint in court.
The lady councilor, a Kampi bet, explained that her office did not monopolize the holding of activities as these were delegated to several committees.
As far as her office is concerned, Belleza said the activities it handled cost a total of P365,000, which had already been fully accounted for.
However, Tabasa sees the need for Fernandez to take swift action because the alleged non-accounting of the 2005 Inasal Festival’s expenses has tarnished the image of City Hall.
“He is the father of the City. He must assure the Talisaynons that their taxes are put to good use,” he said.
Tabasa, who is running for a City Council seat under the group of mayoralty aspirant Johnny V. delos Reyes, is considered the oldest candidate in the city at 75.
He served Talisay as a town councilor since 1989 and was one of the pioneering legislators when Talisay became a component city in 2001.
He lost in the 2004 elections, landing in 12th place in the race for the 10-seat City Council. (GC)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (April 26, 2007 issue)
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