BY EUGENE Y. ADIONG
BACOLOD City – All but one member of Negros Occidental’s Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) signed a manifesto expressing support to President Benigno Aquino III whose administration is under fire for the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).
Vice Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson led the SP members in signing the manifesto initiated by Gov. Alfredo Maranon Jr.
Only Provincial Board member Patrick Leonard Lacson did not sign the manifesto. He said local governments should not “dip their hands” on the DAP issue.
“We must wait for the decision of the Supreme Court on Aquino’s motion for reconsideration,” Lacson said.
The Supreme Court declared parts of DAP unconstitutional.
Impeachment complaints have been filed against President Aquino over DAP this week. The first complaint was filed by militant groups and civil society personalities while the second was filed by youth groups.
Yesterday, another impeachment complaint was filed against the President, this time over the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with the United States.
All the complainants accused the President of culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust.
Gov. Marañon said the impeachment complaints won’t prosper.
Provincial Board members who signed the manifesto were Salvador Escalante, Rolando Ponsica, Miller Serondo, Johna Ko, Victor Javellana, Jose Benito Alonzo, Alain Gatuslao, Renato Malabor, Pedro Zayco, Helen Zafra and Mark Cui.
Board members Raul Rivera and Renato Gustilo were absent during Wednesday’s SP session; they were on official travel.
But both Rivera and Gustilo sent word that they will also sign the manifesto.
Provincial Board member Lacson is a son of former governor Daniel Lacson, a known supporter of former President Corazon Aquino, mother of the incumbent President.
The elder Lacson is the current chairman of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).
The younger Lacson is reportedly a supporter of declared presidential candidate, Vice President Jejomar Binay, a “Coryista” like the GSIS chairman./PN
