P350-M project seen as 'battleground' between Tupas, Suplico
The proposed P350-million multi-purpose convention center being pushed by Iloilo Gov. Niel D. Tupas, Sr. is shaping up as the battleground that would test his leadership as against his nephew, Vice Governor Rolex T. Suplico.
This developed as Suplico's group seems intent in blocking this infrastructure project to the point of literally "bending the rules of the game" just so they could achieve their purpose.
Suplico made it clear from the time he assumed office that he will not allow the project to take off and poured his energies into forging a consensus among Sangguniang Panlalawigan members to scuttle it.
But for all his efforts, Suplico is falling short of the numbers needed to rescind the loan agreement already signed by his uncle with Philippine Veterans Bank.
Under the existing Internal Rules of Procedure, he would need two-thirds vote of all members of recall or rescind the Sanggunian resolution that granted Tupas authority to transact with PVB and obtain the loan.
A head-count of his allies in the Sanggunian shows that he is short by two votes.
That's because Board Member Macario Napulan has publicly articulated his position that he cannot support the move. Another ally, SK Federation president Jeneda Salcedo, is on travel abroad.
At the moment, he can count only on the votes of board members Richard Garin, Arthur "Toto" Defensor Jr., Jett Rojas, George Demaisip, J.R. Salcedo, Cecilia Colada and Mariano Malones.
That's only enough to get a majority.
To get around this obstacle, Suplico, with help from Board Member Richard Garin, is pushing for major amendments in the Internal Rules of Procedure.
The new rules would change that vote requirement to just a simple majority of those members present.
Last Tuesday, Garin tried to get the measure approved by the Sanggunian under "other matters", in what Tupas camp insiders described as a "sly and treacherous" means to undermine the project.
However, Board Member June Mondejar quickly saw through the ploy and questioned the move to get the new Rules of Procedure approved.
"I haven't even read a single page of this document, and you want us to approve this?" Mondejar said as he objected to the motion.
After a lengthy argument between Garin and Mondejar, the former yielded and agreed to table the proposal.
The move to amend the Rules of Procedure is not as innocent as it may seem.
Two weeks ago, Board Member Arthur Defensor, Jr. submitted his Report on the investigation conducted by the Sanggunian constituting itself as the committee of the whole.
In his report, Defensor recommended the recall or rescission of the Resolutions that gave Tupas authority to transact for the loan with Philippine Veterans Bank.
But faced with the technical issue about the two-thirds vote, Garin moved to have the report "tabled" to allow the anti-Tupas group time to maneuver and change the rules of the game to favor them.
On Tuesday, the battle will be over the Rules of Procedure, which is just a preview of the bigger battle over the convention center.