JVR's blame shows failed leadership – Eddiegul

CEBU, Philippines – Former Cebu first district congressman Eduardo Gullas broke his silence over the "apparent tirade" of Talisay City Mayor Johnny De los Reyes relative to the delay on the release of salaries of the more than 1,000 job order employees at City Hall.

De los Reyes earlier blamed his city treasurer Emma Macuto for the four-day delay of the salaries of the employees.

The mayor believes that politicking could be behind the delay because "the city treasurer is closely-affiliated with the former congressman."

"It's a failure of  leadership. Kung atong sala, atong angkunon, dili ta mamasangil sa mga department head nga mao'y hinungdan, unya ibasol sab dayon sa uban," Gullas said.

While no official statement has not yet been issued by any quarter, the city's budget for the job order workers' pay is reportedly not enough to cover all of them as there are too many JOs hired.

Based on the records of the Human Resources Department, there are 1,300 job order employees at the Talisay City Hall, compared to 400 during the incumbency of Gullas as mayor of Talisay in 2001 to 2004.

"Like a good father of a family, we live according to our means. If wala siya nag-hire og daghang job order, wala unta siya'y problema," Gullas said as he criticized the city's employment system for laxity in monitoring the job order.

De los Reyes has denied that the city is short of funds for the job order employees' salaries.

"Dili na tinuod nga wala ta'y kwarta. Naa ta'y kwarta para sa atong mga job order," he said. De los Reyes admitted that the issues surrounding his administration are part of politics, especially with the 2016 elections looming in the corner.

Political skeptics in Talisay believe that De los Reyes and Gullas will engage in a rematch come 2016, although for the latter, it won't only be a two-man game.

"Mura'g akong nakita nga dili lang rematch kun dili three-corner fight karong election," De los Reyes said. He did not elaborate on who the third potential candidate would be.

"Ang importante iyahay ta og pa-gwapahay, sa babaye pa, kanang maduolan ba ta, atong availability," De los Reyes said.

In 2013 mayoralty race in Talisay, Gullas lost to De los Reyes by a slim margin of 736 votes.