Soco camp: Spat with Pam not personal

CEBU, Philippines — The camp of Cebu Vice Governor Glenn Soco pushed back against recent remarks from Governor Pamela Baricuatro, stressing that the issue should not be reduced to personalities as tensions between the province’s top officials continue to simmer.

In a public statement sent to the media, Soco’s legal counsel and spokesperson, Georgia Herrera-Klepp, said the vice governor is being unfairly singled out over delays in key provincial measures.

“We’ve taken note of the Governor’s recent statements, and while we respect her position, we need to clarify a few points,” Herrera-Klepp said.

She emphasized that decision-making within the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is collegial and not vested in a single official.

“This is not about personalities. The Vice Governor is being singled out as if he alone makes decisions, which is not how the Sangguniang Panlalawigan works,” she said.

“It is a collegial body—actions are taken through committees, proper documentation, and collective deliberation,” the statement added.

Herrera-Klepp also said concerns should be addressed through proper institutional channels instead of being aired publicly.

“If there are concerns, these are best addressed through proper channels, not by singling out individuals in public. Let’s just focus on the work and avoid personal attacks,” she said.

She underscored that Soco remains focused on governance, stressing that their position is “strictly about work, nothing personal.”

The statement came after Baricuatro publicly expressed frustration over delays in legislative action.

The governor said her working relationship with Soco has been strained following a previous dispute over tax issues, adding that at least three measures remain pending.

These include the guidelines for the Legislative Assistance Fund (LAF), the province’s position on the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) before the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, and a memorandum of understanding for the 93-1 land deal.

“There's a time to be a nice person and there's a time to say enough is enough… I really had enough,” Baricuatro said.

She warned that the delays have begun to affect the rollout of programs funded through provincial trust funds, noting that unreleased allocations are hindering operations.

“Kung dili ni ma-release na mga funds, dili ko ka go into action, di mi katrabaho, ma-delayed ang tabang sa katawhan. So I’m not really doing it for myself, I’m doing it for the people,” she said.

Baricuatro said projects such as mobile kitchens, mobile clinics, and disaster response efforts are among those affected. She added that some funds have remained idle since last year, continuing to delay implementation.

As governor, she said such delays ultimately affect public service delivery, though she maintained she remains open to communication with the Vice Governor’s office. — FPL  (CEBU NEWS)