Friday, June 15, 2007 Vice guv rejects Panlilio's plea to stop bidding
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Pampanga Vice Governor Joseller Guiao has denied the request of governor-elect Eddie "Among" Panlilio to postpone Thursday's bidding of infrastructure projects.
In a letter to Panlilio, Guiao said there was no valid reason why the bidding should be postponed, considering the projects for bidding have been posted at the provincial bulletin and in Phil G-EPS website.
Earlier, Panlilio in a letter dated June 13 asked Guiao to defer the scheduled bidding saying "yours is no more than a caretaker administration."
Panlilio even warned Guiao, saying: "You are duty bound to prepare for the orderly transfer of authority of the incoming governor and should not do acts which you ought to know, would embarrass or obstruct the policies of his successor."
He also cited the case of Dominador Antayona v. Andres V. Castillo, et. al. GR. no. L-19313, Jan. 19, 1962, to cite that the present administration is merely a "caretaker" one.
But Guiao said Panlilio misread the jurisprudence, which has reference to "midnight appointments" of the National Government.
"This is not a caretaker government," Guiao said as he reminded Panlilio that his term will start at noon of June 30, 2007.
Under the Constitution, the incumbent governor was a duly elected governor who obtained the mandate of the people. The Constitution itself states that he has authority to administer the province until noon of June 30 of this year. (MHD)
