BACOLOD City – Councilor Caesar Distrito said there is no politicking in the approval and release of financial assistance to villages in the city.
“The SP (Sangguniang Panlungsod) is taking into consideration what would benefit our constituents,” said Distrito.
He added that they take action on all requests endorsed to them by the mayor and they make sure that the process is “not done in haste.”
“We usually approve such request from the mayor. There is no politics there,” he stressed. “The best action [for villages] is just to submit their request to the mayor for his consideration.”
Yesterday, several village chiefs in the city submitted a letter to the Commission on Elections and the Department of Interior and Local Government expressing their “serious concern” over the “seemingly partisan” administration of Mayor Evelio Leonardia.
One of them – Barangay 7 captain Bernabe Sibug – said a copy of the letter will also be sent to the Office of the President.
Sibug and 35 other village chiefs in Bacolod signed the letter after their barangays did not receive financial assistance ranging from P140,000 to P320,000 from the city government.
The financial aid is meant for cleanup activities, like drainage de-clogging, in barangays, as provided for under Resolution 411 that the SP approved on April 4.
They said the city government failed to explain why only 25 barangays availed themselves of the aid.
On top of this, Sibug also said the unequal distribution of garbage share collection and the hiring of thousands of casual workers at city hall prove the partisan political undertakings of Leonardia’s administration.
Sibug said these “certain practices” are aimed at “improperly influencing [the public] in [its] exercise of the right to vote,” especially that the May 14 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections is drawing near.
Leonardia on Monday said the complaining village chiefs are just “politicking.”
“Sila naga pamuliti ka,” Leonardia said. “Gali kay indi ko nila kursunada, mareklamo sila? Indi ta pagpunggan ang pangserbisyo sa banwa.”/PN
