Ombuds asked to probe talent fee 'kickbacks'

Performers of the historic Battle of Mactan reenactment, presented by the Lapu-Lapu City government during the 12th ASEAN Summit in January, are now requesting the Visayas Ombudsman for an investigation on the alleged anomalous practices of a city employee and his three companions who reportedly slashed a portion of their talent fees and pocketed the amount.

Eliseo Tumulak, head of the Nagkakaisang Manggagawa ng Pelikulang Pilipino-Cebu chapter, believes that aside from city employee Raje Palanca, Reynaldo "Doods" Daclan, Zerox Palanca and a certain Jerter Delgado might have been involved in the "kickbacks done to supposed payment of their acting services."

Tumulak filed his complaint before the Visayas Ombudsman last Friday hoping that the anti-graft investigators will find Raje Palanca the culprit of the anomalous activity, and possibly for the other three to face the consequences of the law.

He claimed that it is very clear in the document he secured from the Lapu-Lapu City government that the payment declared for their services did not match with that of the amount given to them. He said this only means that somebody slashed a portion of the fees and pocketed the money. Most of them were only given P1,200 when in fact the city paid them more than P2,000, he added.

Tumulak said the talent fee given to him was only P3,000 despite being promised P5,000; while Lito Artiaga who served as technical director was only given P4,000 instead of the P8,000 earlier promised.

Seventy-two persons, including Tumulak, who performed during the reenactment of the Battle of Mactan are now complaining they were fooled.

Tumulak said the document showed that one person bearing the name Reynaldo Daclan signed the so-called "payroll" for having received the payment.

However, Daclan denied of any involvement in the reported anomalous payment of talent fees, saying that dancers were only given a P500 fee; while actors who played soldiers to Magellan and the warriors of Lapu-Lapu were given P1,000 each.

"Naa sa dokumento nga sa pag-practice namo duna mi tag-P105 nga allowance walay labot sa bayad sa actual na nga reenactment. Apan gibulsa gihapon sa mga wa'y uwaw," Tumulak said.

Tumulak, who trained the warriors and also played as the tribal chief in the reenactment, demanded proper investigation on the matter and the immediate imposition of sanction upon those responsible to stop this corrupt practices in our society. - Rene U. Borromeo/MEEV