Vice Gov slams gov's acts anew, hits ‘classic' brand of politics
"I know Governor (Niel) Tupas. I know his brand of politics. I know that he is the classic professional politician. I know that he has no other visible means of livelihood aside from politics. I know that Gov. Tupas will run for Congressman in the Fourth District of Iloilo and that his son, Barotac Viejo Mayor Raul Tupas will run for Iloilo Governor in 2010. And I know that he will not hesitate to use the resources and influence of the Iloilo Provincial Government at every opportunity to advance the political agenda of his family."
Iloilo Vice Governor Rolex Suplico knew all that. Or so he said in yesterday's fiery privilege speech entitled "Like a thief in the night."
The Vice Governor's main subject are financial transactions authorized by his uncle, Governor Tupas particularly Executive Order 047.
"EO 047 is undoubtedly an illegal issuance… It may have violated other provisions of the (Local Government) Code, the Revised Penal Code, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and other pertinent laws, issuances, rules and regulations on malversation, falsification, usurpation and other crimes as well," Vice Governor Suplico said.
The speech then touched on talks about employees' benefits.
"For the record, I am open to the idea. However, any resolution should be within the bounds of the law," he stressed. "EO 047 is like the proverbial thief in the night. It stole the power to appropriate funds given by the Code, other pertinent laws, issuances, rules and regulations to all Sanggunians, to the exclusion of all local chief executives," the vice governor continued while adding how such is purportedly aimed at providing "some cheap semblance of support to what is clearly an illegal act."
Suplico also disclosed one Capitol document which bore a personal annotation of former Miag-ao Mayor Gerardo Flores.
"With illegal fund releases based on EO 047, we can only guess if the general welfare of the residents of Iloilo was promoted pursuant to Section 16 of the Code… But we are positive that with the delivery of projects to the barangays based on EO 047, Governor Tupas and his family's political agenda, like a thief of the night, is and will certainly be promoted!," he said.
Vice Governor Suplico ended his speech by calling for a special audit of the Commission on Audit. He also urged that the Commission, the Ombudsman or "any entity to file the appropriate criminal, civil, and administrative cases against those responsible for the illegal releases of public funds pursuant to Executive Order 047."