Martinez goes to Congress to collect pay, pass projects

CEBU, Philippines - "Well and good and good luck"!

This was the statement made by Cebu 4th district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon after receiving information that former Bogo City Mayor Celestino "Tining" Martinez III went to Congress to claim the latter's salaries.

Martinez was declared by the Supreme Court last January 12 as the winner in the 2007 congressional race in the district.

Rolando Valderama, a long-time aide of the Martinezes, said yesterday that last Thursday, Martinez went to the House of Representatives Secretary-General for the requirement for him to get his salaries as congressman, a position that has been held by Salimbangon since 2007 up to now.

Valderama said that Martinez already went to the Congress' appropriation office wherein the latter submitted his GSIS number as well as his list of projects.

Valderama said that as far as they are concerned, the legal battle as to who is the winner is over and that Martinez is now the congressman in the district.

"Pasagdahi na lang na sila sa ilang gibati. Let them do what they want to do. The legal battle is not yet over. I am still the duly elected congressman of the fourth district," said Salimbangon, who was distributing checks yesterday for the scholarship program in Bogo City, the hometown of the Martinezes.

When asked what projects were submitted by Martinez, Valdemara said they were more on road projects especially in the barangays.

Meanwhile, Salimbangon said charges of malicious mischief will be filed against those who removed and destroyed his tarpaulins in San Remigio town last week.

There are reports that the removal of the said tarpaulins were reportedly carried out under the instructions of Bogo Mayor Celestino "Junie" Martinez II. Junie has denied this.

Delon Urot, the legal counsel of Salimbangon, said that they still have to get affidavits from their witnesses and if it will turn out that the current mayor is behind it, then they will not hesitate to file charges against him. – Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/BRP (THE FREEMAN)