Philippine Councilors League (PCL)-Bohol President Antonio "Tony Pet" Ouano has been eyed as the most qualified person to run as national PCL Vice-President for the Visayas Islands during its national convention starting March 5 in Pasay City. Ouano has called on his fellow legislators in the province to rally behind his candidacy, saying that if he would get elected in a national PCL post he would do his best to make a difference in public service. “We will push for real transparency in the national PCL office,” Ouano told the Post in a phone interview yesterday. “We have to make each PCL official accountable to our people and to their fellow legislators,” he added. He said that the past administrations in the national PCL directorate have not been that transparent in their governance.

Ouano, who will align with the group of Alma Moreno, said there remain many questionable financial transactions committed by the previous PCL national officials. Asked why he would not be supporting the group of PCL national chairman Alan Zulueta, the Boholano councilor said that Zulueta had ignored the plight of the Boholano people when the 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck the province on Oct. 15 last year. The maverick councilor from Getafe, Bohol said that Zulueta has “never” called or texted any PCL Bohol officials to extend his (Zulueta) sympathy to the quake and typhoon victims in Bohol. Ouano said that it was Moreno and PCL National Secretary-General Maybelyn Rose Fernandez who worked hard so that cash donations from other local government units could be sent for Bohol. “I hope our fellow councilors in Bohol would place their support on the group of Alma Moreno who has a heart for the Boholanos,” Ouano said. (MIKE ORTEGA LIGALIG)