SP opening for 2009: Suplico slams guv's EO 1
Sangguniang Panlalawigan's regular session for the year was marked by a scathing speech from Vice Gov. Rolex Suplico addressed to his estranged uncle Gov. Niel Tupas Sr.
Albeit a rehash of his previous remarks against his uncle, Suplico's speech was in reaction to the governor’s issuance of Executive Order (EO) No. 1 declaring the SP-approved 2009 budget as illegal and unconstitutional.
Mincing no words, Vice Governor Suplico titled his speech “Ang Ingrato” as he went further to slam EO 1 as “illegal.” And no need for it too, he stressed saying 2009 Budget as approved last year by the SP body had already taken effect.
“What a way to start 2009!,” he began. “...Governor Tupas has arrogated upon himself legislative and judicial powers. He has become a dictator and a tyrant!”
And the vice governor had a lot more to say far from the issue of EO 1. Suplico in his speech used the moment to disclose millions in previous aid to his uncle and the entire Tupas family.
“I have not made secret of the fact that I and Congressman Ferjenel Biron financially supported Governor Tupas in 1998 when he lost to then Governor Arthur Defensor and until 2001 when he won over then Vice Governor Demy Sonza,” Suplico said.
The financial support apparently included a P70,000 monthly allowance between 1998 to 2001, a P40 million aid during the 2001 elections and P6 million from Biron through Suplico’s intercession.
Other assistance came in the form of three brand-new vehicles and a brand new Omega wristwatch.
“I practically carried the entire family on my back… In one instance, I distributed the money in the house of Atty. Badal Trompeta in Iloilo City to the candidates of Governor Tupas in the province. You can ask Bob Maroma, Curging Tirador, Manny Justiniani, Moning Antiojo and others in the know,” Suplico added. “I never thought that the candidate Representative Biron and I supported in 1998 and in 2001 will be closely involved in graft and corruption in the Iloilo Provincial Government. We never thought that Governor Tupas had the gall to do what his predecessors never did: appoint his wife and their relatives en masse to the Capitol.”
“I am certain EO 1 is a prelude to more graft and corruption in the Capitol,” the Vice Governor said as he also made public purported election plans of the entire Tupas family.
“Where will they get the money? I am afraid that we have to do everything to protect the provincial public funds. I fear that the money in the coffers of the provincial government will be used once again not for the general welfare of the Ilonggos but for the political survival of Governor Tupas and his family in 2010.”