Durano:No more funds to pay KIA ambulance

CEBU, Philippines - Fifth District Rep. Ramon “Red” Durano VI did not believe Compostela municipal treasurer Lorenzo Almodiel’s claim that the fund intended for the payment of the town’s ambulance is still intact.

Durano said Almodiel has lost his credibility after having been suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman for failure to account P7,524,011 municipal funds.

“Why would you believed to someone who is not credible,” Durano said.

He believes that something anomalous happened to the P1 million fund given by TUCP Partylist Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza out of his Priority Development Assistance Fund for the purchase of the town’s ambulance.

According to Durano, the fund was released to the municipality of Compostela in April 2010 yet. However, the town under the leadership of then mayor Ritchie Wagas failed to pay the ambulance from Kia Motors prompting the latter to repossess the unit.

Durano said it was just right for the supplier to take back the ambulance for not having received the payment for almost a year now.

Almodiel explained that there was just a delay in the processing of papers blaming the recent circular of the Commission on Audit that requires pre-auditing.

“For one year, wa pa ka comply?” Durano asked.

Durano said he pity the people of Compostela because they have no municipal officials attending to the basic services. Until now no single elected officials in town has assumed office because of the Commission on Elections order nullifying the proclamation of the winning candidates in the last May elections.

Durano said the people have already chosen the right leader to lead the town in the last elections by the Comelec prevented them from assuming the position.

The 2nd division of the Comelec earlier ordered the Municipal Board of Canvassers (MBOC) of Compostela to reconvene for the recount of votes.

The order was based on the election protest filed by Wagas against the mayor-elect Joel Quiño.

“Klaro kaayo nga ang previous mayor di kadawat sa kapildehan, iya gisakripisyo ang development sa katawhan,” Durano said.

The MBOC is yet to convene pending the resolution of the motion for reconsideration filed by Quiño. — (FREEMAN)