Mejorada surprised over DOJ's speedy action on Graftwatch raps

By Florence F. Hibionada

A top aide of Governor Niel Tupas, Sr. was ordered to answer the administrative raps filed by the People's Graftwatch of Iloilo.

With no less than Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez as signatory, Provincial Administrator Manuel “Boy” Mejorada was given 72 hours upon receipt of said order to make official its reply.  Such, amid earlier pronouncements of Mejorada downplaying Graftwatch's complaint while adding that the Department of Justice is not the proper venue.

While, Mejorada vowed to answer Gonzalez's letter he expressed surprise over the latter's immediate action on the Graftwatch complaint.

Mejorada told The News Today, “it is very unusual on the part of the justice secretary to immediately act on such complaint which is not even of grave national interest.”

He said, other papers reaching the office of the justice secretary even sleep for years before it could be acted upon.

Mejorada observed this could be a harassment on the Tupas administration for abandoning Pres. Arroyo at the height of calls for her resignation.

Endorsed by Monsignor Meliton Oso, People's Graftwatch of Iloilo President, complaints of usurpation of functions and falsification of public documents were filed before the Justice Department with retired Judge Virgilio Sindico and lawyer Heptie Correa as direct complainants.

On top of the complaints was the plea for a preventive suspension on Mejorada.

The Provincial Administrator was charged alongside another top Tupas aide, Executive Assistant Levy Buenavista.  It was not immediately known if a similar and separate order was handed down on Buenavista by Secretary Gonzalez.

Mejorada however said the “fictitious or ghost meals” being referred to in the complaint was intended for the dinner during Integrated Bar of Philippines' Presidents Congress held last December 6, 2002.

Mejorada even said Gonzalez, who was congressman of Iloilo City then, was the one who requested Gov. Niel Tupas to host the dinner of the IBP Presidents Congress.