MABALACAT CI TY – For not approving the supplemental budget of P200.4 million requested by the administration of Mayor Cris Garbo, the chairman of the Finance, Budget and Appropriations Committee in the sangguniang panlungsod (SP) here was subjected to “vile attacks” in the social media, especially Facebook (FB).
Councilor Rogelio “Jeng” Yumul, chair of the said committee, vehemently denied demanding P1 million in exchange for approving the P200.4 million supplemental budget.
“I rise here to defend my name and my honor and that of SP (Jerry) Basilio of whom they malignantly accuse of opposing the supplemental budget because we demand more than P 1million peso that was promised to be given to my fellow SP members,” Yumul said in his privilege speech on Tuesday.
He said certain persons, whether using fake accounts in social media or not, have been posting disturbing accusations that members of the SP have been given P300,000 each in exchange of their approval of the P72 million supplemental budget (Supplemental Budget No. 02, Series of 2018) earlier requested by the city government.
Yumul, as chair of the committee, said his main objective is transparency. He said for every transaction that passes through his committee, he makes sure that these are proper, and the benefit will redound to the people.
Yumul said he will never compromise his mandate and duty in exchange for money.
“Now that these (FB) accounts have thrown dirt to our beloved institution, I dare anyone who wish to know me, to request for a lifestyle check, to determine who really is corrupted in this government,” Yumul declared as he challenged his detractors in social media or Mayor Garbo or department heads for a lifestyle check.
“Para abalu tamu na nung ninu pu talaga ing corrupt (So that we will know who really is corrupt)!” he said.
“Marok pu wari ing pamag-busisi ku kening supplemental budget a ini? Epu wari mas masanting nung atin tamu pung transparency at ababalu tamu pung masalese deng pupuntalan na ning pera ning gobiyernu (Is it wrong to scrutinize the supplemental budget? Is it not right if we have transparency so that we will know where the funds of the government are spent)?” Yumul asked.
The committee chairman also said the so-called expose in the social media that members of the SP are “bribe-takers” is grossly unfair.
In ending his privilege speech, Yumul quoted a line from a Fernando Poe Jr. movie: “Inumpisahan ninyo, tatapusin ko!”
