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Saturday, April 22, 2006
Opposition leaders chide mayor on plebiscite funds
By Lizanilla J. Amarga
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- Mayor Vicente Emano and his pro-administration allies "merely wasted" P1.095 million of taxpayers' money in their attempt to break up barangays perceived to be sympathetic to the opposition.
The money, already spent to prepare for the plebiscites scheduled on Saturday, was for naught because they would not push through, opposition leaders said.
Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 38 presiding judge Maximo Paderanga came out Friday with an order enjoining the mayor, City Council, and Commission on Elections (Comelec) from holding the plebiscites on Saturday.
The local Comelec office said it could not yet estimate how much money was lost on the intensive information campaign and newspaper publications about the plebiscites and the printing of ballots.
The office nevertheless vowed to "recycle" the materials supposed to be used for Saturday's two plebiscites "in accordance with the guidelines from Comelec Manila."
Also, expenses have been incurred for the travel and accommodation of two Comelec Manila officers who are here in the city to conduct the plebiscite.
Former opposition city councilor and senior state prosecutor Rogelio Butch Bagabuyo said Emano was just wasting people's money.
He said he believes from the very start that Emano was to blame for the waste of the funds.
Barangay Kauswagan chairman Roger Abaday and Barangay Lapasan chairman Teodulfo Lao said the amount could have been used for barangay projects.
'Twisted priorities'
Lao said this just reveals the "twisted priorities" of Emano and those with him at the City Council.
Bagabuyo is representing Lao and Abaday in the charges slapped against Emano, his city councilors, city treasurer, and Comelec.
Comelec 10 Regional Director Carlito Ravelo said it could not be determined how much was wasted. He said what was allocated for the plebiscites was P1.7 and only P1.095 million was remitted to Comelec Manila.
Cagayan de Oro election officer Stalin Baguio said he would obey the court order and just try to make use of the ballots and other materials for the holding of the plebiscites in the proper time.
Lao and Abaday are asking the court to declare three city ordinances as null and void and to issue a preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order (TRO).
The three ordinances are in relation to the creation of Barangay Justiniano R. Borja from Barangay Balulang, Barangay Baloy from Barangay Tablon, Barangay Macanhan from Barangay Carmen, Barangay Bongbongon from Barangay Kauswagan and Barangay Lapasan South from Barangay Lapasan.
Only Barangay Carmen is led by a pro-administration barangay official while the four others are barangays whose residents voted for opposition leaders.
It was only barangays Kauswagan and Tablon that were set for two separate plebiscites Saturday with a budget of P1.09 million from the city's coffers. (Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/Sunnex)
(April 22, 2006 issue)
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