'Not only us,' Tupas aide counters on P3.5M Capitol 'food trip'

By Florence F. Hibionada

The “extravagant, excessive and unconscionable” food expenses in the Capitol were not solely made by the Office of the Governor.  In fact, even inmates of the Iloilo Rehabilitation Center (IRC) and members of the Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP) are to be credited on the P3.5 million catering services of the Iloilo Provincial Government in about a year's time.

Mejorada

This and more were clarified by top governor's aide, Provincial Administrator Manuel “Boy” Mejorada in a press conference called yesterday with Capitol reporters.

Addressing The News Today article entitled “Food Trip,” Mejorada began his explanation by dragging Board Member Manny Gallar into the fray saying it is Gallar who attempted to make a fictitious claim.  The Provincial Administrator also said efforts are currently being made to retrieve other documents that would show similar extravagant food expenses by a minority board member.  In due time, he added, these documents will be made available to the press. 

Also dragged into the issue was former Board Member and now First District Representative Janette Garin who according to Mejorada incurred some P170,000 in meals in a span of three weeks back in 2003.

And it is him and his “ masipat nga mga mata (keen eye)” that uncovered the now controversial Capitol meals and not the Commission on Audit (COA), Mejorada stressed.

“ Basi abi niyo COA ang nakatukib sina.  Kami ang nagpahibalo sa COA (You might think COA discovered it, we were actually the ones who told COA about it)” he said.  “ wala sila galaum nga mag-agi sa akon mo.  Te abi nila makalusot . ..here is documentary evidence nga kung makalusot sa masipat ko nga mga mata (They thought they can get over it but here's the documentary evidence, which if I did not scrutinize), he (referring to Gallar) would have collected P51,000.”

The alleged Gallar fictitious claim was supposedly made in November 12, 2004 of which Mejorada said, “ isa ini sa nakabutang sa COA AOM.”  When verified in the office of Cabatuan Mayor Ramon Yee, he added, it was learned that no consultation was conducted by Gallar that would have justified the P51,000 food claim.

“ Gapakuno-kuno nga siya graftbuster..patinlo-tinlo..ari dokumentado, wala kami gakutaw-kutaw..amo ini ang athag nga pagpangawat (He projects himself as a graftbuster when in reality he is corrupt)…,” he said.

COA in an Audit Observation Memorandum (AOM) wrote to inform Governor Niel Tupas of the multi-million food expenses of the Iloilo Provincial Government in the period of July to December 2003 and January to June 2004.  A special audit was made after government auditors noticed the unusual influx of food charges made to provincial coffers.

“As far as the Executive is concerned, kami ya ginapatuman na namon ang paghagan-hagan sang gasto sa pagkaon sa mga training kay kalabanan diri sa may pagkaon sa mga seminar.  Gina-limit ta karon nga indi magsobra sa P150 kada tawo in one day nga training (We in the executive strictly implement austerity measures in fact we now limit participants in the various trainings),” Mejorada went on to explain.  “ Subong gina-require ko sila nga simple lang nga pagkaon pati gani softdrinks dulaon na para magnubo (We now require them to have cheaper dishes).”

The COA AOM also noted disbursement vouchers and similar documents to justify said expenses that appeared doubtful and lacking of important data such as official purpose of the event, venue and identities of the persons and guests entertained.

Questions were also raised by the Commission on the “shopping” mode of procurement used by management officials with the meetings and Capitol occasions justified as “emergency in nature.”

As explained thereafter, “shopping” as mode shall be resorted to only “when there is an unforeseen contingency requiring immediate purchase provided the amount does not exceed P50,000.”

In a closed-door conference early this week, top Capitol officials met with the COA audit team where The News Today learned Governor Niel Tupas assured the group of “drastic measures to reduce expenses in catering services.”

“ Ti-on na ni para mahublasan gid kung sin-o ang indi husto ginahimo (This is now the right time for the people to know who is corrupt),” Mejorada also said.