In what appeared to be its biblical equivalent of what is happening at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan , the symbolism of today's celebration of Palm Sunday is hard to resist,-- what with 11 members practically singing “hosannas” to their presiding officer V-Gov. Concepcion Lim. But before the Post is carried away with the irony of today's Palm Sunday celebration vis-à-vis the goings-on at the SP because that is tantamount to comparing V-Gov. Lim to Jesus Christ, let it be clear before hand that the analogy ended right here. Waving palm fronds, today's observance of Palm Sunday was a take off of what happened according to Prophet Daniel's “seventy sevens prophesy” recalling the triumphant entry of Jesus in Jerusalem where He was met with wild chants of hosannas by an adoring crowd. But the significance of today's celebration as Christendom ushered the week of Lent where the crowds were crying hallelujahs made a bizarre twist when the object of their adulation turned their backs and yelled “crucify Him”, five days later.
An ad which was obviously dedicated to the Post banner story last Sunday denied anything that mentioned about legislative showdown at the SP. There were no “l0 SP members vs vice guv” although the same manifesto inadvertently omitted the catchphrase “all for one, one for all”. The all-encompassing phrase as leaked by Board Member Godofreda Tirol saying in “pinpoint accuracy” that it was levelled in the direction of V-Gov. Lim who insisted on controlling the budgets of board members in the guise of cost cutting and austerity. Tirol's percolation was shared by Board Member Dionisio Balite who was vocal in his tirades that he failed to render a committee report because his office was not supplied with bond paper as a result of the Lim's centralized system of office supply procurement. Until yesterday morning, Balite was heard on radio that he was still in need of office supplies.
PAID AD
The same paid ad which appears in a leading weekly today virtually put in a bad light the claims of the Post banner story last Sunday. Contrary to the Post headline, the present situation of the SP was pictured as the epitome of unity and cooperation judging from the manifesto signed by 11 SP members. It showed that everything was alright in the SP saying there was no centralized distribution as, again, erroneously claimed. The same SP statement added that all financial documents of the executive branch pass through the governor and all financial documents of the legislative branch through the vice governor. Although the name of V-Gov. Lim was not mentioned in the “So the People May Know” ad, it was clear from its contents that it was dedicated to absolve her of any wrongdoing given the allegations of centralized procurement. Unless they have changed tack, Balite and Tirol were as emphatic as ever in their protestations about the austerity measure bordering in fact on insinuations that it was meant to control under one office the budget of each board member. The source of the Post headline last week was at least three board members including the lady Tirol but the same was met with a stinging rebuff from Gov. Edgar Chatto adding there was nothing of that sort that took place in a conciliation meeting called to thresh issues about the complaint of the two outspoken board members. According to Chatto, the meeting was cordial to the point that 11 board members including V-Gov. Lim toasted for the sake of unity, cooperation and harmony.
TRUE TO FORM, LOYALTY
The “erroneous” Post story as insinuated by the paid ad also debunked insinuations that Lim's protégées Crispina Vergara, Liga ng mg Barangay federation president and Doxson Asoy, Sangguniang Kabataan federation president, abandoned their patron in her time of need during last week's conciliation meeting. In a paid ad in this paper, both Vergara and Asoy showed their true color by professing their loyalty to Lim. In a manifesto of support, Vergara and Asoy said that it was published in the local newspaper (The Bohol Sunday Post) and aired over the radio that “we have withdrawn our support and disconnected with the leadership of V-Gov. Concepcion Lim. Denying the Post story, the two ex-officio members of the SP informed the public that “ we categorically deny the allegations fabricated against us and the Honorable Vice Governor Inday Conching Lim.
In the other manifesto of support paid for by funds of the SP, both Asoy and Vergara joined Lim, Board Members Cesar Tomas Lopez, Venzencio Arcamo, Gerardo Garcia, Abeleon Damalerio, Josephine Socorro Jumamopy, Romulo Cepedoza, Beinvinido Molina, Jr., Brigido Imboy and Ramonito Torrefranca in weaving a tale of harmony in the SP. Saying they shall not allow intrigues to “divide us and distract us from our sworn duty to serve every Boholano', the manifesto was also signed by Gov. Chatto and V-Gov. Tirol. But what was intriguing about the manifesto was that it lacked the signature of Balite and Tirol, two of the most vocal proponents of dismantling a centralized system of procurement in the SP.
SP MUTINY?
Not contented with the paid manifesto, all 11 board members echoed another press release to deny any political skirmish in the SP. Saying all for one, - but not against anyone!, this seemed to be the present battle cry of the SP in a media blitz calculated to dismiss insinuations that the institution is facing a “legislative divide”. The board members termed the current brouhaha as a product of media hypes to the point of depicting some of them as “mutineers” against the policy of their presiding officer Vice Gov. Lim. In a manifesto of support for Vice Gov. Lim signed Friday, 11 board members said “there was no legislative showdown” as reported.
The rest of the press release read:
The statement, obviously referred to a headline story of a local newspaper that saw print last week that said: “10 SP members vs vice guv”. “No one was against anybody. There were concerns aired but they were resolved,” board members said. During a meeting with Gov. Edgar Chatto at the Seg Lim Restaurant of the Bohol Tropics Resort last week, Vice Gov Lim and the SP members threshed out various issues like supply procurement, travel charges, fuel allocation, among others. “The discussions were healthy, just like among family members. After resolving some issues, everybody joined in the toast saying “all for one, one for all”. All's well that ends well”, a witness to the meeting said. Last Friday, Vice Gov Lim clarified that she never mentioned about centralized procurement.
“Procurement is done by the General Services Office and no SP member is prejudiced when it comes to supplies,” the vice governor added. “In the same manner that all financial documents pass through the Governor, all financial documents of the Legislative Branch pass through the Vice Governor. That is what the law requires and that is what we are following,” the board members said. Insinuation that said the Governor was convinced by the pontification of two board members against centralized system of procurement was clarified. “It's erroneous to say that. The truth of the matter was that even the Provincial Accountant thanked the Vice Governor for having been serious into looking into financial records because it makes their job of protecting public funds easier,” the signed statement said.
In her first six months in office, Vice Gov. Lim pushed for the adoption of procurement process in accordance with what is required under the law. Last week, she let the Bids Awards Committee secretariat make a refresher-brief for legislative assistants and staff on procurement systems, as provided by R.A. 9184, otherwise known as “The Government Procurement Reform Act”. Pertaining to caustic discussions at the SP, it was admitted there was, but through strong expression of personal views and not to the extent of glass-throwing. The signed statement quoted a saying: “Hatred cannot be overcome by hatred, but by love alone. Falsehood cannot be overcome by falsehood but by truth alone.” In reiterating their determination to work as one “collegial” body, the SP members said they won't allow intrigues to divide and distract them from their sworn duty to serve every Boholano. (Reports: EdCom-VGO)
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