Vice guv sues 21 more in the Capitol
When it rains, it certainly pours. Or so it would be for Capitol officials and employees now at the receiving end of Vice Governor Rolex Suplico's 'wrath.'
Tuesday it was 11 respondents, yesterday the number nearly doubled with 21 named in malversation of public funds or illegal use of public funds charge.
The vice governor is the sole witness in both complaints as opposed to the now 29 "at-large" Iloilo Provincial Government personalities. Three from yesterday's respondents were also named in Tuesday's complaint.
Leading the respondents' group was Levy Buenavista, closest associate of Governor Niel Tupas. Other respondents were Lucy Beso and Corazon Estelita Beloria of the Provincial Treasurer's Office, Antonio Muralla of the Office of the Provincial Budget Office, Ma. Ellen Joyce Lago and Cheryl Buenavista of the Human Resource Management and Development Office, Hope Chloe Sotela of the Provincial Agriculturist's office, Ramboy Montañez and Gregorio Serofia of the Iloilo Rehabilitation Center.
Also charged were Jogie Alamon of the Culasi National High School, Bob Bucana of the Dumangas District Hospital, Arsenio Ang of the Govenor's Office, Nona Calanao of the Ramon Tabiana Memorial District Hospital, Reah Manate of the Provincial Health Office, Manuel Potente and Michael Lendel Deluso of the General Services Office and Maricel Deypalubos of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 68, P.D. Monfort North, Don Beloria of the Provincial Accountant's Office, Genebel Embellado of the Pedro Trono Memorial Hospital, Victoria Jagorin of the Governor's Office and Jocelyn Bartolome of the Provincial Accountant's Office.
And once again, the Capitol officials turned respondents were held by Suplico liable for allegedly "conniving and confederating together and mutually helping each other, unlawfully and feloniously consented or through abandonment or negligence, permitted other persons" to take the questioned amount.
The "job hires" on the other hand, Suplico said, "connived and confederated with and mutually helped the public officers and employees named …as indispendable parties by their direct participation…in an unlawful and criminal act committed against public fund."
Serving as primary evidence submitted by the Vice Governor was a Certification made by lawyer Lorenzo Tubola, Secretary to the Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP).
"This is to certify that the 9th Sanggunian Panlalawigan ng Iloilo has not authorized the hiring through job orders for local projects of emergency or casual employees or laborers paid on a daily wage or piecework basis…," excerpts of the Certification went.
Other evidences included payrolls and office orders submitted to the City Prosecutor's Office.
Governor Tupas when reached for reaction told Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) Capitol reporter Joven Anisco that Suplico's acts are "pure harassments."
Tupas even challenged his vice-governor nephew to charge him instead of the Capitol officials and laborers. This, as he vowed to provide legal assistance to all respondents.