'Get your hands off relief fund,' Suplico warns Guimaras 'vultures'
Government response on the continued devastation brought by the oil spill in the Province of Guimaras got an added boost of P2 billion in oil spill funds from the House of Representatives. The huge budget will not be in easy reach of local leaders with the House creating its own "Oversight Committee" if only to assure and ensure that all P2 billion will be "graft-free."
The confirmation came from Representative Rolex Suplico (Fifth District, Iloilo) in a text message sent to The News Today (TNT). The approval, said solon disclosed, came late Wednesday evening following the nod given to the final reading of House Bill 5568 that pushed for the P46 billion Supplemental Budget.
"The opposition led by Minority leader Francis Escudero assisted by deputy minority leader Roilo Golez and myself had earlier successfully incorporated the amount of P2 billion as Guimaras Oil Spill Fund," Suplico said. "Upon my motion, an oversight committee was also created in order to ensure that the P2 billion will be graft free. The House led by the minority had indeed put money where its mouth is. I urge the Senate to pass this measure with dispatch."
Suplico's sentiments further hit what he termed were "human vultures" in Guimaras in the light of millions in assistance and emergency relief supplies given to affected locals.
"I urge the Arroyo Government and all Local Government Units involved in the Guimaras oil spill clean up to exercise transparency in the use of funds. There are human vultures within and outside the government who may feast on dead fishes and other marine life and the misery of the victims who are in grave desperation," he continued while adding, "I warn them that they will face the full force of the law. The funds should go to their intended twin purposes: the oil spill clean up and assistance to the victims including alternative sites and livelihood programs and not to the pockets of these vultures who will greedily take advantage of the tragedy for personal gain. Certainly, these vultures are now salivating at the thought of millions of funds that will be poured into Guimaras and the oil affected areas. I warn them to avoid that sticky situation."