Zulueta on Antiquiera's report: He lied
Iloilo City Councilor Eldrid Antiquiera doesn't let pass an opportunity to point out what he perceives to be lapses on the part of his colleagues in the Sangguniang Panlungsod. But when someone returned the favor by exposing his being less than forthright with his answers to questions by the other members of the city council, he refused to confront the issue head-on, opting to muddle up the issue instead.
It didn't take long for the ninth regular session of the city legislature last Wednesday to heat up with Councilor Perla Zulueta starting hostilities by delivering a privilege speech entitled "Of Dishonesty and Lies," where she accused Antiquiera of lying to the Sanggunian after the latter denied knowing who brought to the DENR's attention a complaint against Philippine Foremost Milling Corporation (PFMC). She also rapped Antiquiera for not making available to the members of the city council a copy of a DENR investigation report that would have "rendered his report moot and academic."
"In the report dated August 22, 2007 of Kagawad Eldrid Antiquiera, there was mention of a 'Report of Investigation on the Complaint Against PFMC, Brgy. Progreso, Lapuz, La Paz, Iloilo City dated August 2, 2007.' It was listed as one of the documents on file with the said committee regarding the complaint of one Teodoro Salem. However, the papers pertaining to the matter, which were furnished the Sanggunian did not include a copy of the said document. In fact, as certified by the Office of the SP Secretariat, there was nothing submitted to them except Kgd. Antiquiera's report," Zulueta began her speech.
"With the DENR report in his file and knowing all along that said office has already taken initial steps to resolve the matter, why would he then still recommend for its referral to the DENR when it has already been rendered moot and academic by the agency's August 2 report?" she asked.
Zulueta also wondered why Antiquiera did not mention anything about the DENR report in his own report when "all those things that required 'technical expertise,' a reason he cited for ruling the complaint as 'premature' and recommending its referral to 'a more technical entity,' have been exhaustively discussed in the said report."
"And when asked by this representation if he knows who called the attention of the DENR to the complaint, Councilor Antiquiera denied knowing who was instrumental in asking the DENR to conduct a parallel investigation on the matter and I quote him from the transcripts which I have in my possession: 'I don't know who was instrumental on that...'" stressed Zulueta, dubbed the "Iron Lady of the City Council."
"Why did he deny knowing who asked for DENR's action on the matter when the report he was furnished clearly stated it was Mr. Noel Relato of Bombo Radyo who visited and inquired in their office regarding the complaint against PFMC? Did he not read the DENR report in its entirety or he simply does not want to give credit where credit is due?" she added.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the chairman of the Committee on Environmental Protection had been less than forthright; he was not honest; in fact, the gentleman lied to us. What is his motive or intention for doing so? I want to know why. I believe the honorable members of this august body deserve no less than an explanation," Zulueta further averred.
She then concluded her speech by saying, "If I have described the report as anemic and impotent, now I can add that the report is castrated."