Capitol dads set prelim talks on major issues up for probe
It would be D-Day for the Iloilo Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) as members gather tomorrow (Tuesday) for a preliminary conference and agree on what to do with major issues presented for investigation.
As such, The News Today (TNT) learned that Notices of Hearing set at 10 a.m. were sent out to all board members and Vice Governor Roberto Armada. The meeting as called was made by Fifth District Board Member Domingo Oso, SP Committee of the Whole chairperson.
It was not immediately clear how many has thus confirmed attendance yet certain was that all concerns endorsed for SP probe will be discussed. Among those up for the preliminary talks is the call for investigation sought by Third District Board Member Manny Gallar relative to the 150 job hires under the Office of the Governor.
An apparent off-shoot of the frenzy caused by the alleged 30 job hires under the Office of the Vice Governor, Gallar said now is the best time to ascertain which issues are fact and fiction.
In a TNT interview, Gallar expressed delight in the forthcoming SP probes even as he admits "it is too good to be true." What is important, he added though, was that he has done his part and continues to do so amidst the difficulties faced by his group being the minority.
In a news release, Vice Governor Roberto Armada welcomed any and all probe while saying that the Ilonggo taxpaying public deserves to know the truth on all the issues raised for and against the Iloilo Provincial Government.
Such as Gallar in a letter officially notified the Vice Governor's Office of the latest issue thrown against the Governor.
"It has come to my knowledge that the Office of the Governor under Governor Niel D. Tupas, Sr. has hired more than one hundred fifty (150) casual laborers many of whom have no definite assignments and are known as "Belo boys". But the worst thing about these casual laborers is that only one laborer is signing in behalf of the other laborers in the payroll. This is highly irregular, if true," the letter went. "Because of this report, may I request an investigation regarding this matter. We may even summon Governor Niel D. Tupas, Sr. to shed light on this alleged anomaly."
Earlier, provincial administrator Manuel Mejorada accused Armada of keeping about thirty ghost employees in his office.
Mejorada alleged that of the thirty casual employees listed under the Vice Governor's Office only three had been found to report in the said office.
He called for the Armada's investigation however the latter ordered the Sangguniang Panlalawigan secretariat not to release documents pertaining to the casual employees.