LGU's use of fund for Pacquiao bout show questioned

CORTES, BOHOL, Philippines - Some officials of this town have accused the administration of Mayor Apolinaria Balistoy of alleged irregularity in the use of municipal funds to finance the show of the Pacquiao-Mosley fight today at the municipal gym.

An official of the mayor however rebutted, "What's wrong with it," as he contended that other towns have also done this kind of practice for the same purpose and yet their respective constituencies made no fuss about it.

Municipal budget officer Roberto Tabanera said he had no qualms on using the money to air the Pacquiao bout to the people, and he admitted that it is part of the "social" budget for the town.

Just like "medical allocation," for medical mission, the money is for everybody to enjoy or entertain considering that Pacquiao is a national pride and inspiration, Tabanera said.

He said the fund use for boxing show was in accordance with the existing policies as approved by the officials themselves.

The FREEMAN tried but failed to make contact with Balistoy for comment on the issue, but there were insinuations that this matter had aggravated the fresh rift between the mayor and Vice Mayor Danilo Montero, who was her runningmate in last year's elections.

Reports have it that their relation turned sour lately after the mayor allegedly allowed her close kin in running the affairs of a people's organization, which is into paper-making venture.

Tabanera did not go into the details of the issue against the mayor but he turned the tables on Montero for alleged "early bird politicking."