By ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
THE “ABONO fiasco” in the province of Negros Occidental is getting more complicated. Even the independent and apolitical Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees (PACE) has been dragged to the fray.
PACE is the union of capitol employees. Supposedly, it is headed by the controversial Security Services Division (SSD) chief, Renelo “Tisong” Lastierre, as president. However, last Friday (July 21), in haste, Lastierre was stripped of power. He was replaced by Ruben Diamante.
Diamante, alongside other new PACE officers, claimed they “pity the governor” with regards to the current mess at the capitol. So they pressed for a change in leadership.
Lastierre is currently at odds with Provincial Administrator Rayfrando “Ray” Diaz II over two bullets found at the Food Terminal Market of Negros (FTMON) on July 3. Such led Diaz to disrobe him of supervisory power over all capitol guards and watchmen effective July 7.
Provincial Attorney Albertas Nellas Jr. assumed Lastierre’s functions.
‘TREACHEROUS’
In his Facebook post, Lastierre billed the doffing his power as PACE president as “treacherous”.
“I could have respected your decision but your process is treacherous,” Lastierre told the new PACE officers.
“Kon indi na kamo sa akon, respetuhon ko, pero ang proseso sang inyo pag-ilis sa akon bilang presidenre sang union wala nasanto sa justice kag fair play,” he said.
Diamante said they did what’s legal and “the best” for PACE. Too, he claimed no one “powerful” at the capitol influenced their decision.
Diamante denied Diaz was behind the move to unseat Lastierre.
Gov. Bong Lacson, in his simple response to the ruckus, stressed he won’t meddle on the PACE row.
DISPENSE OF COUNTING
In a press conference on July 21, Lastierre partially released a “bomb” re: abono fiasco.
He said his two watchmen assigned at the bodega of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) in Barangay Tabunan, Bago City have already been recalled, and the controversial bodega logbook, which contains the details how the now missing 789 bags of inorganic fertilizer were delivered in October last year, was already submitted to the Provincial Legal Office (PLO).
Pressed on the alleged midnight delivery and under delivery issues, Lastierre retorted: “What I knew was the counting of bags of fertilizer during the delivery was dispensed.”
Lastierre said his watchmen were able to photograph the delivery receipt, but not the actual hauling of the bags of fertilizer.
What did he mean?
Lastierre begged off from further giving details.
ILOILO SUPPLIER
I personally did a research. The supplier of the fertilizer was Juantong Corporation from Iloilo.
It was the winning bidder of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Region 6 to supply inorganic fertilizers to all high-value crops (HVC) farmers in Western Visayas affected by Typhoon “Odette” in December 2021.
In Negros Occidental, four local government units (LGUs) were supposed to receive the P2.3 million worth of fertilizers – Cadiz City, Bago City, Kabankalan City, and Cauayan town.
Juantong Corporation, a reliable source said, is definitely willing to testify if needed.
“It is ready to defend its integrity and credibility in doing business,” the source added.
DRAGGING
The 10-month probe on this “abono fiasco” is already dragging. Can’t Governor Bong order the PLO to speed up its probe?
Pitiable are the “innocent(s)” being dragged into the current tumult.
The very issue here is that 789 bags of fertilizer could not be accounted. But it is hard to believe that mere job order workers or even regular workers would “architect” a “break-in”. Those 789 bags weren’t easy to haul.
So who’s really the brain behind this?
Let the ax fall to where it’s needed to fall./PN
