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Thursday, October 25, 2007
Pampanga guv hits league’s inconsistent stand on cash gift
By Marna H. Dagumboy
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Governor Eddie Panlilio criticized Wednesday what he termed as the inconsistency of the League of Provinces of Philippines (LPP), which owned up to being the source of the P500,000 cash gifts given to him and to Bulacan Governor Joselito Mendoza in Malacañang last October 11.
In a telephone interview, Panlilio said "there are seeming inconsistencies" in the latest statement of the LPP considering that the treasurer of the league had told him last October 15 that the money did not come from them.
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"When I talked to them (LPP) on October 15, they told me that the money did not come from them. But last night (Tuesday night) I was surprised by the LPP's statement that the money came from them," the governor said.
Although the LPP staff claimed in the October 15 telephone conversation with Panlilio that the league was not the source of the money, he was told that it was intended for "institutional building."
Palawan Governor Joel Reyes, spokesperson of the LPP, told Sun.Star Pampanga in a separate interview Wednesday that their organization has a P21 million fund that comes from contributions of members.
"We usually give capacity building fund to first timers as a start-up fund for them," he said.
Reyes added the release of the fund "was a usual practice" and that the receipts "usually follow."
In its defense of Malacañang, the LPP announced Tuesday that the money given to Panlilio and Mendoza came from the league's coffers. The LPP even stated that if the two governors were unhappy with the money they received, they could return it to the group.
Mayors’ appeal
The Pampanga Mayors League (PML) urged Governor Panlilio Wednesday to utilize the P500,000 for the improvement of the public hospitals in the province.
In an official statement signed by PML president and Lubao Mayor Dennis Pineda, the PML appealed to the governor to use the P500,000 assistance for the improvement, rehabilitation, and operation of the province's nine district hospitals and one provincial hospital.
"As originally stated by Governor Panlilio, we share his belief that the financial assistance he accepted is not bribe money but is meant for public purposes such as for Pampanga's public hospitals that provide the medical needs of our poor sick people," added the letter.
In a meeting of some PML officers, along with Subic-Clark Alliance for Development Secretary Edgardo Pamintuan, at the King's Royale Hotel and Leisure Park in Bacolor Wednesday afternoon, Mabalacat Mayor Marino Morales said he "firmly believes that Arroyo did not bribe Panlilio or any public official."
The PML letter to Panlilio was drafted during the gathering.
The PML also appealed to "all concerned to set aside vested interests and give our nation a chance at national reconciliation and peace."
"We hope and pray that Governor Panlilio shall heed this humble appeal of our people for him to lead our efforts in putting an end to this unfortunate episode of inadvertent confusion and unfounded distrust so our province and our country may once again move forward," the PML letter added.
Aside from Pineda, Morales, and Pamintuan, the other officials present at the King's Royale meeting were Bacolor Mayor Romeo Dungca, Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo, and San Simon Mayor Rodrigo Canlas.
Deep trouble
Meanwhile, Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone and the entire leadership of the LPP may find themselves in deeper trouble and face possible administrative and criminal charges in relation to the cash gift distribution in Malacanang.
Malacañang, on the other hand, said Wednesday that the Ombudsman would be the one to scrutinize the claim of the LPP that it distributed the “cash gifts” to some governors who attended the Malacañang meeting last October 11.
UNO president and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay said LPP funds and other organizations of local officials are considered public funds subject to proper accounting procedures.
“The LPP is funded by contributions from member provinces, and the contributions are taken from the budget of the provincial governments. These are public funds and should be subject to auditing and standard disbursement procedures,” Binay said.
He said by owning up to the distribution of the amount, Evardone is opening himself to possible criminal and administrative charges for the unauthorized disbursement of public funds.
Binay likewise said he doubted the veracity of Evardone’s statement saying that it took him and the LPP close to two weeks before making the clarification.
Earlier, Panlilio revealed he was handed P500,000 placed in a brown bag by Bulacan Governor Mendoza through Archie Reyes, the Pampanga governor's chief-of-staff.
Last October 15, Panlilio wrote a letter to Malacañang acknowledging that he received the amount and asking under what name should "the official receipt" be issued.
In response, Malacañang finance director Gloria Bundoc last October 19 denied disbursing the amount. He said the money did not come from Malacañang. (Sun.Star Pampanga/With reports from Ian Flora Ocampo/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Dumaguete. (October 25, 2007 issue)
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