Malonzo challenges accuser-solon to martial arts duel

Irked over allegations that the city government was nearing bankruptcy, Caloocan City Mayor Reynaldo Malonzo challenged his adversary, Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice, to face him in a martial arts bout instead of continuing his back-stabbing.

Malonzo, a former actor who appeared in numerous martial arts flicks, issued the challenge during a forum aired over the radio yesterday to highlight the three-week feud between two former political allies under the Lakas-NUCD party.

"I’m a martial arts expert. Face me and hit me instead of stabbing me in the back", the mayor told Erice during the weekly Fernandina Forum in Greenhills San, Juan.

"Na-traydor ako, ( I was betrayed). I was in China when the allegations were made," he said.

Erice ignored the challenge but hit back at Malonzo, accusing the mayor of playing "demigod" in Caloocan for thinking that all the people were indebted to him.

The lawmaker said Malonzo has blown the issue out of proportion.

Erice, whom Malonzo addressed as "the former councilor," insisted that the city government of Caloocan is now bankrupt resulting to the non-payment of employees’ bonuses, electric bills, garbage collection and other basic services in running the bureaucracy.

"Electric bills, garbage contractors and even job orders have not been paid for several months," he said.

Erice claimed Malonzo’s deficit spending may affect the delivery of basic services and the construction of various infrastructure projects in the city.

Erice said he has an audit report from the Commission on Audit (COA) to support his allegations.

Malonzo refuted the charges, saying Erice’s claims were baseless. He explained that the delay in payments was simply the result of the bureaucratic system.

Their participation at the forum was the first face-to-face confrontation between the two officials after an exchange of accusations in the last three weeks.

Malonzo noted that just like the national government, the city is also affected by the economic crisis but stressed that the city has the money to pay all its obligations, including the bonuses of the employees.

He said it was unfair to say that the city was bankrupt since this may drive away investors.

Malonzo also reminded Erice that he could not have won in the elections without his support. He also pointed out that if there is indeed any shortfall in the budget, then the congressman is partly to blame since he was among those who drafted the budget when he was still a councilor.

Erice said he won in the elections because the people voted for him. He also admitted that he will be running as mayor in the 2004 elections.

This served as Malonzo’s cue to criticize Erice for politicking. The mayor said, however, he is willing to face Erice in the political arena in the future.

"For the moment, let us confine the fight between ourselves. I have never run away from a fight before, but let us spare the government and the people of Caloocan," Malonzo said.