Carmen councilor claims persecution

CEBU, Philippines - A councilor of Carmen, Cebu who belongs to Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya-Liberal Party (Bakud-LP) alliance is claiming persecution by his colleagues in the municipal government on his move to expose alleged anomalies in a project.

In a privilege speech last Wednesday, Councilor James Camara called for the administration to be transparent.

He claimed he has been persecuted by the administration for exposing alleged anomalies particularly in the proposed flood control project for the Luyang-Cantumog River.

“Ako unta nagpakahilom apan ang akong konsensiya dili makatugot, ang mga katawhan sa lungsod sa Carmen sa tanang higayon iyang limbungan,” he said.

Camara also called on LP provincial head, Governor Hilario Davide III, to look into the alleged anomalies to stop government funds from being wasted.

“Nagsunod man kaha ta sa programa ni PNoy sa gitawag og Tuwid na Daan. Apan ang atong lungsod tuwad ta daan usa nato mahibaw-an ang atong mga proyekto nga pulos naputos sa anomaliya,” Camara said.

 He stressed he is not against the project but the law must be followed.

 â€œKlaro akong prinsipyo nga isip magbabalaud salikwaot ug ngil-ad tan-awon nga kita mismo ang mobawog sa maong balaud,” Camara said.

 Vice Mayor Al Silvestre Damiles confirmed the Municipal Ordinance that authorized the proposed P13.5 million loan as the town’s counterpart to the P30 million foreign-assisted flood control project.

Camara claimed the ordinance did not pass through the committee on laws and ordinances, of which he is chairman. There was reportedly no public hearing held.

 â€œDuna moy project nga gisugdan nga wa man diay mo’y kwarta, kinahanglan pa man diay ta mangutang,” he said.

 The ordinance is among the requirements set by Department of Finance-Municipal Development Fund Office for the release of a grant from the Asian Development Bank.

 Camara also questioned the design of the project, which according to him is very thin with its 30-centimeter thickness.

 Ramero Pungtod, focal person of the Integrated Coastal Resource Management Program, told the councilors during their session the design was approved by the Department of Public Works and Highways.

 Pungtod further said the documents were reviewed thoroughly by different agencies in Manila before the project was approved.

 Other projects Camara has questioned include the bleachers at the grand stand and the purchase of the CCTV camera.

Damiles told The FREEMAN Mayor Martin Gerald Villamor will answer the allegations at the proper time.

 â€œAko siya (Villamor) giingnan nga maminaw ba siya sa record sa privilege speech… nibalibad man nga di lang kay langan lang sa trabaho,” Damiles said.

 Damiles said they still treat Camara as a partymate. All the elected officials of Carmen are members of Bakud-LP. — /JMO (FREEMAN)