Jong reports to Capitol after resignation rumors

CEBU, Philippines - Lawyer Rory Jon Sepulveda showed up and faced the media at the Capitol yesterday to clarify reports that he resigned as Capitol consultant on information, revenue generation and compliance.

Sepulveda said that Governor Gwendolyn Garcia would have wanted him to face the media last Saturday when the report came out but he was still in Manila that time.

Columnist Bobby Nalzaro published in his column last Saturday that Sepulveda resigned effective October 31 and is now with the Philippine Airlines.

Sepulveda denied that he is now with PAL. He said the report was “greatly exaggerated” and that his contract is up to December 31, 2011

Asked if he still wanted to have his contract renewed, Sepulveda told reporters it depends on the appointing authority who is the governor.

“So as long as she needs me as consultant for information and revenue generation, I am and will be able to help,” he said.

Sepulveda also clarified that he has no acrimonious relationship with Garcia contrary to what was reported.

“She is more than my client kay naa may kaso nga ako’y nag-handle. I treat her as my older sister, because dugay naman kong nakig-kauban sa banay’ng Garcia. Naa la’y private business reasons that I have to lie-low as spokesman for a while, na busy man pud intawn ta. She knew about it,” Sepulveda said.

He also belied reports that Garcia threw ballpens to department heads during meetings, including him.

“Dili na manlabay ug ballpen ang gobernador, there was one time nga gibundak ang ballpen, dili tungod ako ang gibundakan sa ballpen,” he said.

Sepulveda said that the report should have been verified easily by Nalzaro because the columnist knows of his email address, as Nalzaro even claimed to have received once an email from him.

“Kahibalo siya sa akong email address, ug iya gipa-confirm sa ako dali ra kaayo. I will not begrudge him for that, I know na unsa siya, ingon ana iya gusto,” he said.

Sepulveda reiterated that never in the past had he done any work for the governor as a consultant or as a spokesman that was contrary to his beliefs and values.

“Wa man ko’y nakita nga dautan, in fact maluoy naman gani ta tungod sa iyang pagka workaholic, di naman gani moundang ug trabaho,” Sepulveda said.

Sepulveda has been consultant on information, revenue generation and compliance at the Office of the Governor since 2004.

He has been a partner of the Mercado Cordero Bael Acuna & Sepulveda Law Offices since 2001. – (FREEMAN)