Pilapil: I am not against the scholarship program

CEBU, Philippines - After filing administrative complaints against Mayor Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco over the alleged irregular distribution of scholarship grants, Liloan Vice Mayor Lucelito Pilapil has clarified that he does not oppose the scholarship program of the town.

He said he was not assailing the scholarship program but the distribution of the grants for being “irregular” because it was done without an appropriation ordinance.

Frasco, however, questioned Pilapil’s move, saying he was left wondering why the vice mayor criticized the scholarship, which started in 2007, only now when the May 2016 elections is just a few months away now.

“In all that time, Vice Mayor Pilapil never raised any questions regarding the program, being aware of its legality, and knowing that education is the top priority of my administration.... Clearly, his complaint is not only baseless, it is malicious,” Frasco said in a press statement.

Pilapil, Frasco’s former One Cebu Party ally, is running against the mayor’s wife, Christina Garcia-Codilla, daughter of Cebu third district Representative Gwendolyn Garcia, for mayor next year.

Frasco said the scholarship program has benefited over 6,000 college and high school students in the past eight years since 2007.

The money used for the scholarship was sourced from P6 million in public funds supposedly intended for the town’s Solid Waste Management Program, which is an ongoing project under the development fund of the municipality.

But at least P3 million of the P6 million was realigned to the scholarship program and the remaining P3 million was tagged as for “other development project,” allegedly upon the request of Frasco.

Distribution of the amount was made on October 23, but Pilapil noted that it was only on November 4 that the council passed an appropriation ordinance realigning the P6 million.

“The release and distribution of the P3 million DUKE Scholarship Program to the beneficiaries on October 23, 2015 even without an appropriation ordinance for the said purpose is an exercise of grave abuse of authority of the mayor and a blatant disregard of the procedure in the disbursement of funds,” he said, adding that the distribution was hastily done and was a “clear political gimmick.”

He was serving as acting mayor when the appropriation ordinance was approved. He vetoed it only to be overruled by the town council.

This prompted Pilapil to file administrative complaints of grave misconduct, grave abuse of authority, and conduct unbecoming of a public official against Frasco before the Provincial Board.

Pilapil also asked the body to place Frasco under preventive suspension to prevent him from influencing possible witnesses.

Frasco, on the other hand, said he is “fully confident” that the PB, which is dominated by Liberal Party members, would be fair and objective in its investigation, and hoped that the “baseless” complaint against him would be dismissed.

Pilapil was an ally of Frasco but shifted allegiance to Durano-led Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya Party.

Frasco has questioned the timing of the filing of the administrative complaints and warned that in his quest to become mayor, Pilapil has “unfairly placed over 2,400 young scholars and their families at the crossfire of his political agenda.”

“So my question is, why only now? Vice Mayor Pilapil is well aware that the scholarships are supported by a valid and legal appropriation. After all, he was the presiding officer of the Sanggunian that passed it. Clearly, his complaint is not only baseless, it is malicious. With barely six months before the 2016 elections in which he is vying for Mayor of Liloan, the Vice Mayor’s motivations are clear,” Frasco said.

He said that while he intended giving scholarship grants as a way to help the youth, Pilapil sees it as a political affair.

As to Pilapil’s request to have him suspended, Frasco said it is the vice mayor’s attempt at gaining whatever advantages he thinks he could get by becoming acting mayor before the elections.

“Dili na seguro siya kahuwat,” Frasco said.

Under Frasco’s administration, the Capitol has awarded Liloan as the Best local government unit in good governance consistently for the past number of years.

Liloan was adjudged in 2014 as Most Outstanding LGU in Good Governance, and Green Champion LGU Environmental Award.

It also has been awarded yearly with the Seal of Good Housekeeping and Good Governance Awards from the Department of Interior and Local Government in 2014 and in 2013. (FREEMAN)