Perez to Puentevella: Don't intervene with RDC
BACOLOD CITY -- Antique Governor Salvacion Perez, who also sits as chairperson of the Regional Development Council (RDC), revealed that Bacolod Lone District Congressman Monico Puentevella called Pres. Arroyo's appointment secretary Bong Joves to discourage the president from coming to the RDC affair which is set to be held at the New Government Center on May 14.
Perez, in a phone interview with the City Hall Press Corps, said Joves told her that Puentevella convinced him to have the venue of the affair changed.
Perez, however, told Joves that Puentevella should spare RDC from the political squabbles in Bacolod City to satisfy his political ambition in 2010.
“As a matter of fact the venue was chosen by the governors in order to honor also Bacolod City, a multi-awarded city,” Perez said.
To recall, Puentevella tagged the NGC as the corruption center of Leonardia administration.
Leonardia defended that Puentevella was only insecure because for his nine years stay as congressman, he cannot show any big project that transformed Bacolod.
Perez said the venue is final and no one can change it.
She advised Puentevella to make his own affair and even don’t invite RDC.
“Sinabi ko kay Joves na gumawa sya ng affair niya, imbitahin niya kung sino ang gusto niya. This one is the RDC affair and he has nothing to do with it. This is the affair of the mayors and governors, who are the backbones in supporting the President,” Perez said.
In a radio interview, Puentevella denied that he tried to intervene in the affairs of the RDC. He said, he has no time to intervene since he is busy with the Pacquiao fight.
He also denied having any call to Joves and said he cannot stop the president from coming over if she really likes it.
The RDC-VI awarding rite is scheduled in the afternoon of May 14 where the president is set to arrive from Cebu. After the affair, at around 4 p.m. President Arroyo will proceed to New Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay City for her flight to Indonesia.
The city government through Mayor Bing Leonardia already prepared the site for the visit. The improvised stage is set-up in the Grand Reception Hall or the lobby of the NGC as venue of the awarding rite.
The Presidential Security Group (PSG) and Presidential Management Staff (PMS) met yesterday at the NGC-Masskara Hall to discuss security measures.