PB defers consultant post conferment of Borgonia

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu Provincial Board, during its Monday session, deferred the confirmation of the appointment of lawyer John Ismael “Jiembo” Borgonia, as consultant on political and social matters to Governor Pamela Baricuatro.

The Board moved to approve the consultancy contracts of nine other individuals, under the Office of the Governor, but not yet the appointment of Borgonia, a former Board Member of the Third district, pending his appearance in the next regular session to explain the nature of his role.

Board Member Celestino “Tining” Martinez III questioned what “political and social matters” entailed in such consultancy.

“I just want to be educated on what you mean by political and social matters,” Martinez said, as he raised the possibility that Borgonia’s appointment may be seen as “a simple political accommodation,” stressing the need for transparency before committing public funds.

Borgonia is slated to receive a monthly compensation of P60,000 for the job.

“It is the prerogative of the governor to appoint consultants under her office,” Board Member Raymond Joseph Calderon clarified, but said the request for Borgonia’s appearance was reasonable.

Meanwhile, Board Member Nilo Seno reminded colleagues that questioning the appointment would indirectly be questioning the wisdom of the governor herself.

The most pointed remarks came from Vice Governor Glenn Anthony Soco, who recalled a controversial statement made by Borgonia on May 21, this year, when he was still sitting as a board member.

In that statement, Borgonia openly opposed the approval of the ?1.2 billion supplemental budget requested by then-governor Gwendolyn Garcia, describing the Provincial Board at the time as a “rubber stamp” of the administration.

Soco said Borgonia’s words were “detrimental to the whole Sangguniang Panlalawigan as a collective body” and caused “so much tension and disastrous impact” on the institution’s reputation.

“The hate received by the individual members and the body as a whole… is something we can never just overlook and disregard,” Soco said, adding that the record of that incident will never be forgotten and will never be erased.

Soco questioned how Borgonia could reconcile accepting a consultancy role from the very institution he once criticized, although he stressed that he would still defer to the governor’s prerogative if the body approved the appointment.

Martinez then proposed an amendment to the resolution to defer Borgonia’s appointment until he could personally explain to the August Body the scope and objectives of his work.

The amendment was accepted, allowing the immediate approval of the other nine consultancy contracts, which include advisers on health, transportation, agriculture, legal affairs, legislative matters, internal audit, and heritage and culture.

The approved consultants are Dr. Elisse Nicole Catalan for health and hospital development, Atty. Serecio Mathew Jo (transportation and mobility), Michael Francis Acevedo Lopez (international relations), Maria Victoria Osméña (international studies and education), Engr. Grecilda Padilla Sanchez (livelihood and sustainable agriculture), Atty. Edmund Lao (legal matters), Christopher Baricuatro (legislative matters), Romanico Ocampo (internal audit), and Jose Eleazar Bersales (heritage and culture).

Borgonia’s consultancy will remain pending until the next session, where he is expected to appear. — (FREEMAN)