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[av_heading heading=’‘INDI MAN GANI GWAPO’’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”][/av_heading]
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Del Rosario accuses Celino of bid rigging, violating COA rules
ROXAS City – “Indi man gani gwapo iya itsura para ipamutang sa mga kabarangayan,” said Capiz governor Antonio del Rosario.
Del Rosario was referring to Roxas City mayor Angel Alan Celino, who, earlier this month, called him “lawlaw” (lame) for not bagging the Seal of Good Governance, an award that the Department of Interior and Local Government gives to local government units with noteworthy performances.
Del Rosario said the only “accomplishment” of Celino was his billboards placed in most barangays in the city.
“During my time as mayor, Roxas City was the regional winner as the cleanest and greenest city in Western Visayas. [That’s] aside from [Roxas] being the progressive component city in the country,” del Rosario added.
Celino’s comment came after del Rosario said the city government must not avail itself of a P150-million loan for the construction of a public market in Pueblo de Panay.
The conflict heightened as Facebook user Hudeo Eskaryote II posted a 23-second clip showing del Rosario seated on the front row of a cockfight at the New Ports Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World Manila.
The video was posted online on Nov. 30 and had gone viral since.
Netizens speculated that it was Celino’s camp that posted the video as propaganda against del Rosario.
This has not been confirmed as of this writing, though.
Del Rosario commented regarding the video, saying “In my 45 years in public service, I did not hide anything about my fondness for cockfights. It’s my therapy.”
He added that he visited the cockpit in Manila to give invitations to cockfight enthusiasts there. The invitations were for the cock derby in the Capiztahan celebration in April next year, del Rosario explained.
Last week, del Rosario railed against Celino, claiming that the mayor committed bid rigging.
Del Rosario’s allegation was about the city government’s March 20, 2013 purchase of materials for the construction of the Roxas City Integrated Transport Terminal in Barangay Lawaan worth P40,769,735.25.
Panay News has been trying to reach Celino for comment but to no avail.
Del Rosario showed to members of the press on Dec. 15 documents stating that the contract for the terminals’ construction was awarded to the lowest bidder, the S-4 Marketing in Barangay Punta Tabuc, owned by CenaRobosa.
Other bidders were Mirola Hardware with a P40,773,432 bid while the HLH Marketing, Inc. with a P40,790,712.75 bid, the documents showed.
Celino, Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) chairman ArgieleAmbrosio, BAC vice chairman Gilbert Tan, BAC members SherlitaTumlos, Edgardo Alfon and MayflorAlda signed the notice of award on March 25, 2013.
But del Rosario said a business establishment named S-4 Marketing does not exist.
“Lantawa kag libota nyo ang bilog nga Punta Tabuc kay wala kamo makita nga opisina sang S-4 Marketing,” del Rosario told media members.
According to del Rosario, S-4 Marketing owner Cena Robosa was a “dummy.” The governor added that Robosa works with Tan, who is also the city administrator.
Tan was not in his office when this reporter asked for his comment.
Aside from bid rigging, del Rosario added that the city government’s purchase of secondhand green plate vehicles in 2011 and 2012 “violates COA (Commission on Audit) rules.”
Del Rosario cited the purchase of a Toyota Innova with plate number XSJ-929 that the city government bought from Alexandra Simpas in 2011, under Disbursement Voucher No. 101-118 with no warranty.
He said Simpas is married to Cyril Simpas, an administrative aide who works in city hall and is “very close to Celino.”
The city government spent P9,926,137 for the purchase of the vehicles but because Celino has not yet registered them with red plates, the vehicles are still not government properties, said del Rosario.
“Take note of Ford ranger FGS-253 assigned under the Celino. It was the vehicle boarded by Celino when he met an accident some years ago in Zarraga, Iloilo. After it was repaired, the Ford Ranger was sold to the city government in the amount of P880,320 under Disbursement Voucher No. 101608 without any record of the name of the seller,” del Rosario added./PN
‘Urduja’ puts 107 Capiz
villages under water
ROXAS City – A total of 107 villages in Capiz were flooded after the attack of tropical storm “Urduja” during the weekend.
Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) head Esperedion Pelaez said as of 9 a.m. on Dec. 18, only 56 barangays were recorded to remain flooded.
Floods in the other 51 barangays already subsided, Pelaez said.
Prior to the storm’s attack, some residents living in the coastal areas in the province have already moved to their assigned evacuation centers for fear of storm surges, said Pelaez.
The PDRRMO recorded that a total of 862 families in Capiz evacuated.
As of 9 a.m. yesterday, only 10 families remain at the evacuation centers. The others have returned to their houses.
No casualty was recorded in the province, PDRRMO records showed.
Pelaez commended the response of different local disaster risk and management councils in the province.
He said the councils conducted pre-disaster risk assessment meetings and activated their respective operation centers and responding units before the storm. (PIA/PN)
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