A GROUP of senior citizens were irked and slammed an incumbent councilor in Angeles City for reportedly "not finding" him after several visits to the official’s office and residence and allegedly "ignoring" their request for assistance.
Seniors from the Lingap Apu Citizens from Barangay Citizen claimed they visited Councilor Amos Rivera’s home on October 18, 19 and 21 to ask for financial, medical and burial assistance, but no one came out to meet them.
“We’re back here today in his office to ask for medical assistance, but he’s not here,” group president Benjamin Cubacub said in the local language on Thursday, October 28, as he waited outside the councilor’s office at a two-story building in Barangay Cutcut.
The group’s auditor Benjamin Marimla echoed Cubacub’s claim that they would see the councilor’s vehicle parked outside his residence, but they were told to go to city hall to ask for assistance instead.
Marimla said on October 25, they decided to visit Rivera’s headquarters, but the office was closed when they got there.
The group alleged that they continued to visit Rivera’s office multiple times but it was always closed, he said.
“We were hoping to ask for assistance from Councilor Rivera because we heard that he helps, but he’s always not around. Where do we go? I wanted to send my sick child to the hospital, so I patiently wait for the councilor to come,” Gilda Henson said as she tried to fight back tears.
Another resident from Barangay Anunas, Josie Diaz, said after one week of unsuccessfully trying to find Rivera, they just decided to stop trying to seek help from him.
"Manyad ke sanang saup kaya uling tatagal yang mayor, banta akit mi makananu ya mag serbisyo," Diaz said, "Pero magisan ke mu pera kakabalik keng opisina na, e ala ne man,” she said.
(We wanted to seek assistance from him as he was running for mayor and so we could see how he will serve. But we just ran out of money in going back to see him. He was not there.)
"Ini ba ing Bayung Angeles? Potang kailangan mung saup, ali me ahagilap (Is this the new Angeles? When you need help, you can't find him)?" another resident, Larry Blaza, asked.
Blaza was referring to “Bayung Angeles,” under which Rivera is reportedly running for city mayor.
"Minta kami keng City hall uling sabi na nitang akasabi ming staff ng Amos, karin kami munta, oneng alaya man palang opisina karin,” said Blaza.
(We went to the City Hall as Amos' staff whom we talked to said we go there but it seems he has no office there.)
As of writing, SunStar Pampanga was unable to reach Rivera but will remain open for his comments or clarifications regarding the senior citizens' pleas.