CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – With still some P25,000 funds for gasoline expenses, Gov. Eddie Panlilio decided to ride public vehicles on Sept. 1 eliciting negative comments from his critics, including members of the Sangguniang Panglalawigan (SP).
At the SP regular session on Monday, acting Vice Governor Cris Garbo assailed Panlilio, saying “the governor had acted as if he were part of a drama movie.”
“Based on our findings, the governor was indeed making drama and applied pure gimmickry to win sympathy. It’s humiliating,” Garbo said. He disclosed that as of August 30 based on a report, the Office of the Governor had P25,467.29 for gasoline, oil and lubricants expenses.
“Why all the fuss when you still have funds?” Garbo asked.
Panlilio is in the United States of America and reportedly scheduled to return tomorrow. Earlier, he said he had opted to ride a public utility jeep and tricycle due of lack of funds and the SP failing to approve the P13 million supplemental budget he was asking.
In the same official report from the capitol, it was learned that controversial Provincial Administrator Vivian Dabu had 20 vehicles under her disposal.
“With 20 vehicles and all that money for gasoline, how come Dabu let Panlilio ride public vehicles?,” said Garbo. “Sometimes I really wonder who among the two is the real governor.”
The Public Information Office (PIO) would not return calls for the reactions of Panlilio and Dabu.