Suplico warns Capitol execs over release of unappropriated funds
"The override is valid and legal. Ang pagpati sang gobernador lain sang sa laye (What the governor believes is different from the law)."
Such were the words of Vice Governor Rolex Suplico, presiding chair of the 9th Iloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP) amid unresolved controversy on this year's Executive Budget of the Iloilo Provincial Government.
With cases filed following the override made by the SP body on an earlier veto made by Governor Niel Tupas Sr., the Vice Governor maintains that the Capitol's budget as slashed is operative and legal.
No pending cases can stop it, Suplico stressed pointing out provisions in the Local Government Code.
With this, a warning was issued on Capitol officials particularly those involved in the release of the Capitol's funds. Also warned are Capitol personalities who continued to receive compensation based on last year's budget.
"It is clear that what awaits them is malversation of public funds. Bahala sila. (It's up to them)," he added.
Initial 2008 Executive Budget was placed at over P1 billion as proposed by the governor yet the SP body in a legislative slash caused P139 million in cuts primarily felt by the Office of the Governor.
The final amount placed this year's budget at P861,189,878,77 that "streamlined" the plantilla of the Office of the Governor. Pushed for deletion were the positions of Executive Assistant IV and Executive Assistant II, positions occupied by the governor's wife, Myrna and longtime pal Levy Buenavista.
Further still, likewise deleted were positions of the Provincial Administrator and Provincial Legal officer.
Meanwhile, Tupas last week filed with Regional Trial Court Branch 66 in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo a petition for declaratory judgment on the validity of the controversial Appropriation Ordinance.
Also, on Monday Rex Barber in his capacity as a tax payer filed with the same court a petition for prohibition, injunction with prayer for temporary restraining order (TRO) against the appropriation ordinance approved by the SP.