A greenhorn member of the Sangguniang Panlala-wigan whom everybody thought that “he is still wet between the ears” showed the stuff he is made up when he questioned a deal hatched 43 years ago involving the defunct Bureau of Telecommunications and the provincial government. First timer Board Member Alfonso “Ae” Damalerio is not sure what lies ahead of his investigation in aid of legislation, but at the rate he is doing his legislative duties, there's no telling that he might step on sensitive toes belonging to the giant telecommunications company PLDT.

The bone of Damalerio's contention was the report that the lot now occupied by PLDT used to belong to the provincial government. PLDT's occupancy of the province-owned lot was by virtue of an agreement it signed with the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC). The Butel which used to be a part of DOTC was at the receiving end of a deed of donation courtesy of the provincial government as authorized by a Provincial Board resolution passed on September 9, 1964 . The object of the donation was the 426.54 property now occupied by PLDT. Damalerio's investigation which led to the doorstep of the giant telecom provider showed that the province was not earning anything from PLDT even if the existing agreement provided for a lease terms of the property. The agreement was for PLDT to lease the property from the then Municipal Telephone Project Office, an adjunct of the erstwhile Butel. In the course of his scrutiny of the financial transactions between the two parties (PLDT and Bohol Butel) the neophyte lawmaker stumbled upon the terms and conditions of the financial obligations in leasing the property.

Under the terms of financial obligations, PLDT in using the Butel or DOTC lot shall pay an affront payment of P20 million. It was not known if payment was made representing the up front money but this is one of the aspects of the contract that Damalerio is looking into. At the same time, the PLLDT was also mandated to remit to DOTC an annual lease payment in the amount stated on the contractors bid form. Right now, Damalerio is hot on the paper trail that may lead him into knowing how much was the annual rental. What caught the prying eyes of this newcomer kagawad was the contract between DOTC and PLDT. He was of the belief that the provincial government has pecuniary interest in the contract citing a provision of the deed of donation granted by the provincial government to the Butel.

The provision stated that the object of donation shall revert back to the provincial government of Bohol in case the same shall no longer be needed by the Butel for the purpose to which the donation has been effected. It was the understanding of Damalerio that when the Butel had since been deactivated, the lot in question now used by PLDT should have been reverted to its previous owner which is the provincial government. Damalerio said once he can prove that he was right in his interpretation of the documents covering the donation and or rental of the property, he will lose no time in filing a resolution before the provincial board seeking the repossession of the province-owned lot.