Capitol chief's signature faked over Liga campaign strategy
Call it political strategy or bright un-bright idea, yet a new campaign modus has been discovered in Iloilo. The targets? Unsuspecting barangay captains out to choose the provincial federation president who will ultimately become the official voice in the Capitol.
The modus? A seemingly innocent letter sent to various village chiefs in Iloilo's 42 towns and one component city covering 1,721 barangays.
The tactic? Use the name of Governor Niel Tupas Sr. and the magic word of "more provincial funds available."
One letter reached The News Today (TNT) apparently used in a "test-mission" early this month. The letter was made out to barangay captains of the Municipality of Tigbauan with the Capitol's Mario Nillos as signatory. Nillos is the province's Provincial Planning and Development Officer (PPDO).
"The fiscal year 2007 is nearing to an end with barely three (3) weeks to go. The Office of the Provincial Governor has still so much fund for projects. To fully implement the allocated projects for various municipalities, we are soliciting your proposal to be financed by Provincial Funds. In this connection, we would like to invite you for a dialogue with Hon. Niel D. Tupas Sr., Governor, Province of Iloilo... Please come on time," the letter went.
Yet come the dialogue day, no governor showed up in Tigbauan and instead the barangay captain said to be the candidate of Mayor Excel Torres showed up. The meeting for funds as dangled to the group also turned out to be a campaign sortie.
TNT in a belated development learned that similar letters were also allegedly sent out to other Iloilo towns all in preparation for the December 29 elections of the Liga ng mga Barangay here. All town liga presidents are out to vote amongst themselves who will serve as the ex-officio member in the 9th Iloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP). The post has since been vacated by former Iloilo Provincial Liga President Board Member Angelo Briones.
The attention of First District Board Member Richard Garin was called by the the Tigbauan barangay captains that had Garin verify the letter. When checked, Board Member Garin said Nillos denied owning up to the signature. And to prove his point, Nillos affixed his real signature which turned out to be a far-cry from the signature that appeared in the "Dear Honorable _________" letters.