BY ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
THE SNAFU at the provincial capitol of Negros Occidental is an “unhealthy menu” for Gov. Bong Lacson. It maims his image, credibility and integrity.
It’s “scary”, too, considering that the two clashing right now are “bigwigs” at capitol and former best friends. They’re Provincial Administrator Rayfrando “Atty. Ray” Diaz II and Security Services Division (SSD) chief Renelo “Tisong” Lastrierre.
Atty. Ray and Tisong, figuratively speaking, are the “right and left hands” of the governor, respectively. Their dispute started with the controversial “abono fiasco”. It was followed by two bullets found at the capitol’s Food Terminal Market of Negros (FTMON) on July 3.
Dubbed as “bullets brouhaha”, such was timely during the renewal of Contracts of Services (CoS) of job hires at the capitol.
Two watchmen assigned at the bodega of the Office of Agriculturist (OPA) in Barangay Tabunan, Bago City where the 789 bags of inorganic fertilizers were reported missing since October last year were axed. The “bullets row”, therefore, led to the “stripping of power” of Tisong to have control over the entire security forces at the capitol.
A service vehicle assigned to him was also recalled effective July 5, including single motorcycles and service firearms for capitol guards and watchmen.
Too, effective July 7, Atty. Ray, in his July5 inter-office memorandum, appointed Provincial Attorney Alberto Nellas, Jr. as the one in-charge of capitol guards.
‘ATMOSPHERE OF FEAR’
Tisong, on July 19, released an open-letter. He said there’s now an “atmosphere of fear” at the capitol after the series of dismissals and accusations left and right among employees.
Furthermore, Tisong stated that the SSD seemed to have been prejudged guilty “without first waiting for the result of the governor’s tasking the police investigation on the matter.”
“The mentioned incident (discovery of two bullets) was bloated and immediately after three days, I was issued a memorandum stripping me of my supervision over all security guards; and properties being used by SSD in its operations were ordered returned, which included the service fire arms and vehicles used 24/7 in case of incidents to be addressed in all buildings and properties,” he added.
Tisong, too, claimed even his present status as union president of the capitol employees was being attacked.
Worse, he feared that the capitol employees’ benefit and proposed welfare will be affected, especially the forging of the 2023 to 2026 Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA).
Atty. Ray cannot be reached for comment as of this writing.
‘IN THE DARK’
The governor is now being “sandwiched”. In his regular press conference with the Capitol Brats (media) on July 19, he said he would personally ask the Negros Occidental Police Office (NOCPPO) to probe the current mess at the capitol induced by the “abono fiasco” and “bullet brouhaha”.
But it can be sensed that Gov. Bong seems to be “in the dark” still with what’s really happening between Atty. Ray and Tisong.
But the governor stressed, “I’ll go deeper to find out the person behind the two found bullets.”
Atty. Ray earlier said, “Somebody is behind the bullets found at capitol property…And t’was intentional!”
Initial probe showed the owner of the bullets was a capitol job order (JO) worker assigned at the controversial OPA.
‘OPERATION SNAFU’
Question: Who is into “Operation Snafu” at the capitol, turning it to an “unhealthy menu” for the governor?
The fact that capitol already hired “secret agents” from Manila to oversee the silent ruckus is quite worrisome.
Tisong’s move to come out in the open is no joke. He is probably ready with his “cache of exposés” against anyone “come hell or high water”.
Well, if Nigerian-American author, speaker and digital strategist Luvvie Ajayi were to be believed, “Telling the truth-telling thoughtful truths should not be a revolutionary act. Speaking truths to power should not be sacrificial, but they are.”
Hence, the governor must act now na!
‘DROWNING IN DISGRACE’
The “abono fiasco” is a “shameful candor” that messed the capitol. The more the probe drags, the more it exposes more distasteful realities.
And for sure, the provincial government can’t afford to have it last for another week or more./PN
