Local DILG officials deny involvement on PI signature campaign
Iloilo -- Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Regional Director Evelyn Trompeta vehemently denied involvement on the People's Initiative signature campaign which was simultaneously held with the March 25, 2006 Barangay General Assembly.
Trompeta together with lawyer Ferdinand Panes, DILG Regional Legal Officer, both were invited Tuesday to personally appear at the Iloilo Provincial Session Hall in a probe conducted by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Ordinances and Legal Matters led Board Members Domingo Oso and Niel "Junjun Tupas, chairman and co-chairman, respectively.
Trompeta when asked by Tupas, admitted it was her office which facilitated the conduct of the Barangay General Assembly in the region. She however, denied instructing any of her personnel to encourage a People's Initiative signature campaign to amend the 1987 Constitution.
Tupas earlier delivered a privilege speech condemning the DILG's alleged participation in influencing the barangay officials to include People's Initiative as part of the hidden agenda in the recent Barangay General Assembly.
To prove his allegations about the unauthorized signature campaign, Tupas presented some documents gathered from various barangays to Trompeta and Panes.
"There were kits distributed by some local DILG personnel to the barangay officials, at least in my own town in Barotac Viejo, surrendered by my constituents," said Tupas.
Oso stated it was his personal belief that the DILG or the national government was directly involved in the signature campaign, apparently for amending the constitution through People's Initiative.
Trompeta insisted her office was not even aware of such activity as she stood by the memoranda her regional office received from DILG national office. She also made it clear her office has no control of what issues the barangay officials would take up during the assembly as they are governed by their own set of rules and policies as part of the democratic system.
She also denied being influenced by the higher ups when asked by Tupas the possibility of being "forced" to implement the signature campaign.
Capitol News