Silla denies break of 'conscience bloc', alliance with Tupas
Iloilo -- The 'conscience bloc' remains strong and existent. In fact, with or with no agenda, all-four minority board members of the Iloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP) intend to keep their alliance as efforts continue to avert a collapse and break-up. And no linkages either with Governor Niel Tupas.
Such were the sentiments of First District Board Member Bernardo "Idol" Silla, key figure in said SP group amidst talks of split-up.
"Never in my wildest dreams," he said when asked in a The News Today interview. "Never. The conscience bloc is intact, no change, no crack."
Yet how about reports that he has now earned the good graces of the Executive Department through his share in thousands of pesos' worth of Community Direct Action Program (CDAP)?
"How can that be? How can the Governor approve something when I have not made any request?," he retorted while clarifying later that previous requests were made but denied. "Yet I will actually repeatedly make a request if only to prove to my constituents that I am doing my share in asking for provincial funds. Whether the Governor approves or not, that does not matter anymore. What is important is that I have done my part."
Silla who rarely grants interview spoke on other Capitol issues hounding his representation. With weeks of silence noted, the Tupas-alliance talks bolstered and spread easily at the Capitol particularly when nothing was heard of him on the probe as pushed on the inoperational substation.
"Again, I have done my part on this one. As the principal proponent of the investigation, I have duly complied with what is expected of me. I furnished all members of the Sanggunian with a lot of documents. The ball is now in the hands of the Committee of the Whole as chaired by Board Member Domingo Oso. How can they question me on this? They say because the project has long been there and not operational, my move was late. Well, I say now it is better late than never! If not me, then who? Nobody from my fellow board members saw it but me. So let us wait for the protocol of how this investigation will be conducted," he said while appealing for public's understanding on said matter. "We will tackle the issues up for investigation one at a time. First in, first out. I started this so I will definitely see this to its finish."