The News Today Online Edition - Iloilo News and Panay News

powered by FreeFind
spacer   spacer

news

Parcon, Garcia defend cell cards reimbursement

We were singled out.

This was how City Councilor Armand Parcon reacted on the report that he, along with Councilors Merci Drilon-Garcia and Jeffrey Ganzon, had his cell cards reimbursed with the city government.

Councilor Armand Parcon
City Councilor Armand Parcon

Parcon said their names were purposely “selected” then brought out in the media.

It was done in selective basis, he said adding “there are other city councilors who have availed the privilege from the city government but were not included in the list.

He explained it was agreed upon among the councilors along with Mayor Jerry Treñas that they would avail of such privilege.

Parcon said he has so far availed reimbursement of cell cards twice.

Parcon disclosed each councilor is allowed to have a P600 cell card every month chargeable to the office supplies of each councilor.

He however refused to name the other councilors who have also filed their reimbursements for cell cards.

Parcon added that even the vice mayor availed of such privilege and yet only their reimbursements were leaked to the media. He theorized that somebody have planned for it and provided the media copies of the reimbursement.

The councilor challenged that all the reimbursements of the city councilors be also provided to the media.

Garcia, on her part said the inclusion of the cell cards as among their expenses for office supplies is allowed by the Commission on Audit (COA). Each reimbursement was supported by receipts, she said.

However, a source said the practice had long been disallowed by COA, the same reason why they had it inserted in their office supplies reimbursements.

Garcia said they are entitled to free cell cards as long as it is used for official business. She noted that they are prohibited from having long distance calls in their respective offices.

Drilon defended herself saying she is the chair of the committee on tourism and has to transact business not only locally but also in places outside of the city.