By ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
ONE OF the current hyper-local stories in Western Visayas is the Dumangas Port.
The issue centers on the 35% share of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) out of various port operations to include stevedoring, arrastre, and others.
Under PPA Administrative Order No. 06-2020, all port operations and services, formerly handled by private companies across the country, shall be delegated to the host local governments. And the previous 65/35 sharing scheme shall be followed still – 65% for the local government unit (LGU) and 35% for PPA.
Ports operations at the Dumangas Port were taken over by Dumangas LGU sometimes in 2022. Alas, to date, it allegedly failed to remit the PPA share.
The issue was howled by retired police captain Charlie Sustento Jr. Via Facebook, alleged that the Dumangas LGU owes PPA around P63 million in unremitted share from 2022 to date. He then asking about the money’s whereabout, including the depository bank, account name and the daily cash flow.
PPA Iloilo Port Manager Allan Rojo, in an interview with RMN-Iloilo on August 14, confirmed the unremitted share, but stressed the need for the memorandum of agreement (MOA) to be drafted and inked before the transfer of funds can be effected.
Sustento, however, doubted about the delay in the drafting of the MOA. Why only now, he asked.
Dumangas Municipal Treasurer Charity Evangelista, on August 9, issued a certification that the fund amounting to P63,200,960.38 as PPA share is intact.
Lemuel Fernandez, chief of staff of Cong. Ferjenel Biron of Iloilo’s 4th District, also told yours truly that the fund is ready to be turned over to the PPA as soon as the MOA is signed.
Sustento still won’t buy the many justifications. If they are indeed telling the truth, he dared the Birons, especially Dumangas’ Mayor Braeden John (BJ), to now reveal the bank account where the PPA share is being kept.
Mayor BJ, in an official statement, batted on transparency, stressing that the money is there. But Sustento retorted that the Birons can sue him in court so he can defend or prove his allegations.
Question: Why didn’t Sustento himself sue Mayor BJ for this unremitted PPA share before a regular court?
I really admire Sustento. He has lots of solid points. But I think that to make his claims valid and believable, he should go to court and file appropriate criminal and administrative charges against Mayor BJ and others whom he may perceive to be involved in the issue.
“All talks” won’t help him. Facebook isn’t the right forum for his grievances. It will only make him a rumormonger.
But going to court, filing the appropriate charges, and if evidences will side with him, he could be a “hero in the making”.
Yes, I do suggest that as early as now, he should seek refuge in court for all his serious allegations, or he loses credibility.
‘WHISTLEBLOWER’
As always, I admire courageous people, especially those standing against corruption issues.
But I know, too, that to be a whistleblower is no joke.
In the case of Sustento, the element of courage is there. But he needs legal back up to legitimatize his claims.
Facebook, in a way, could help, but the court is the best avenue to lay down all his grievances. Only the court can help him propel his cause via legitimate filing of cases.
Other than the court, his exposé will be put to waste, and worse will only be tagged as hearsay or chismis.
In court, present the truth – backed with tangible evidences – and nothing but the truth.
That’s the beauty of every exposé./PN
