Guv to V-guv: 'Prepare to face oppression, grave abuse raps'
Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas will lead legal moves to counter succeeding graft raps filed by his nephew, Iloilo Vice Governor Rolex Suplico.
In a press conference called with Capitol reporters yesterday, the governor announced that oppression and grave abuse of authority charges are being readied. The News Today (TNT) was told by a reporter present that at the helm of the latest squabble addressed by the governor was the plight of 'job hires' cum Capitol laborers. It was not immediately clear if the affected Capitol workers themselves will stand as co-complainants on the Tupas 'counter-attack.'
Tupas Sr. though was not named in the Suplico-initiated charges lodged before the Iloilo City Prosecutor's Office. Yet to date, a total of 29 Capitol personalities five of whom are top officials were named respondents in a malversation of public funds or illegal use of public funds charge.
The Vice-Governor stands as the sole witness with the governor vowing legal assistance to all respondents.
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.
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 indispensable 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 then reached for reaction told reporters that Suplico's acts are "pure harassments."
Tupas even challenged his vice-governor nephew to charge him instead of the Capitol officials and laborers.
"I welcome it," came Suplico's reply yesterday when told of the governor's counter-moves. "You see when I assumed the position of Vice Governor, I took my oath to protect the interests of the government and abide by the laws. It is clear that the job hires had no authority from the Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP) and the laws were not complied. How can I be accused of oppression and grave abuse of authority when all I wanted is for the law to be complied with?"
Suplico in shrugging off the forthcoming complaints confirmed more future malversation charges against more Capitol laborers hired minus the mandated-SP authority.