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Tuesday, June 20, 2006
More village chiefs deny getting water pipes
By Dante M. Fabian
ANGELES CITY -- Twelve barangay leaders in the town of Magalang said Monday they did not receive any PVC water pipes purchased from the congressional funds of First District Representative Francis Nepomuceno as claimed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Barangay San Francisco Chairman Marcelino Cruz of Mabalacat, in his letter to Mayor Carmelo Lazatin, said his barangay did not receive water pipes.
"It is also stated in your letter that Barangay San Francisco is a recipient of said pipes, as reflected in the delivery receipts coming from the Office of the Ombudsman of Luzon, which you have received last March 10, 2006. In response to this matter, our barangay unfortunately did not receive any of the water pipes," Cruz said in a letter.
Lazatin sought the help of the Office of the Ombudsman in the investigation of the alleged missing water pipes "for the benefit of the people and for their welfare."
Earlier, the Office of the Ombudsman for Luzon junked Lazatin's request for an inquiry saying in its recent letter "that the inquiry must be put to an end because Engineer Ernesto Reyes of the DPWH based in Pampanga had reported that the P12 million worth of water pipes were all accounted for and were distributed in 87 barangays in the province's first district."
Six village leaders from Magalang who also denied getting water pipes from DPWH are Francisco Manabat of San Pedro II, Maximiano Macalino Jr. of San Pedro 1, Ernesto Gueverra of Camias, Ruperto Bayani of San Isidro, German Garcia of San Vicente, and Cornelio Santos of San Jose.
Barangay leaders Francisca Lacson of San Idelfonso, Alexander Santos of Sta. Maria, Domingo David of Turu, Jesus Sarmiento of San Agustin, Bienvenido Villavicencio of San Miguel, and Dominador dela Cruz of Escaler also did not receive any water pipes.
"Mayor Lazatin should really investigate this alleged anomaly involving government funds for the sake of the truth and to minimize graft and corruption in government," said Mercy Rivera of Barangay Balibago here.
"The DPWH must not hide anything to remove doubts about the agency related to the purchase of water pipes," she added.
Among the first of the 33 village executives who replied to Lazatin concerning his query about the water pipes were Efren dela Cruz of Sto. Cristo, Ceferino Nunag of Mining, Benjamin Paras of Ninoy Aquino, Domingo Castro of Capaya, and Carlos Villapaņa of Sapalibutad.
The first Mabalacat barangay leader who told the mayor that his barangay failed to receive water pipes was Jeng Yumul of Barangay Bical. (Sun.Star Pampanga/Sunnex)
(June 20, 2006 issue)
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