Guv junks SP-approved ’09 budget
It is business as usual for the Iloilo Provincial Government following a lengthy holiday break.
And serving as year-opener was yesterday’s Executive Order (EO) of Governor Niel Tupas Sr. junking the last major 2008 move of the 9th Iloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP).
Similar words of “ultra vires, prejudicial to the public welfare, unconstitutional and illegal,” said the governor of the SP’s action.
As such, the issuance of EO No. 001 Series of 2009 relative to the budget for the Iloilo Provincial Government’s operations.
To note, the SP in November 18, 2008 passed Appropriation Ordinance No. 2008-05 enacting this year’s working budget of the province. Tupas vetoed such “on its entirety” stating “it is defective for it fails to meet the basic requirements of law…”
The SP body led by the governor’s nephew, Vice Governor Rolex Suplico did an override shrugged off by Tupas.
“…the override by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the veto does not and could validate a void ordinance,” the governor in his EO stated. Further still, Tupas noted how a petition was also pending in Court aimed at the declaration that indeed the SP move was unconstitutional and illegal.
“Now, therefore, I, Neil D. Tupas Sr., Governor, Province of Iloilo, by virtue of the powers vested upon by law, do hereby declare that the Iloilo Provincial Government shall operate under the reenacted 2008 annual and supplemental budgets, including the twenty (20%) percent Development Fund and that all disbursement of funds shall be in accordance therewith,” the governor’s EO went.