Defensor hits Mejorada for being ‘irresponsible’
Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. has called former Provincial Administrator Manuel Mejorada irresponsible for linking him to the investigation being conducted by the Truth Commission on his predecessor, Niel Tupas Sr.
“He (Mejorada) is an irresponsible person. He should first verify the issue before hitting me,” he added.
Defensor said his camp won’t take on Mejorada’s challenge to fast track the filing of cases against Tupas and his aides.
In fact, he said Tupas is still facing three cases for violation of Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas so there is no reason for them to hurry.
These cases involve the quarry operations at the Iloilo airport, Iloilo Electric Cooperative bribery issue, and the alleged anomalous purchase of second-hand autoclave for a district hospital.
Last week, the Capitol said the Truth Commission headed by former Chief Justice Hilario Davide is investigating 14 transactions made during the Tupas administration amounting to P220.2 million which it considered as “irregular, unnecessary, excessive and extravagant or unconscionable.”
These include the illegal releases of the P71 million extra cash gifts in 2008 and the P102.7 million Productivity Enhancement Incentive for Capitol employees in 2009.
Documents from Commission on Audit showed the alleged anomalies committed by the Tupas administration are among those submitted to the Truth Commission in compliance with Resolution No. 008, series of 2010.
“We are not in a hurry to file cases against them. We will study the cases (and we’ll do it) slowly but surely,” Defensor said.
He added: “I’m not behind the said investigation. Those disallowances were findings made by the COA. The illegal transactions came out after the Truth Commission requested the list of illegal transactions from the COA.”
Mejorada had earlier said the Tupas camp is confident the issue will fade away soon because the Defensor administration has no basis and evidence.*
