Calamity aid mess: Lawyers present city ordinance as their defense

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City lawyers presented another evidence to prove the validity of the release of P20,000 calamity assistance to each of the 4,200 City Hall officials and employees in December 2013.

During the resumption of the investigation conducted by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, lawyer June Maratas presented documents for the city officials named respondents in lawyer Reymelio Delute’s complaint.

The respondents include Mayor Michael Rama, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, and Councilors Nestor Archival Sr., Mary Ann de los Santos, David Tumulak, Nendell Hanz Abella, Sisinio Andales, Alvin Arcilla, Roberto Cabarrubias, Ma. Nida Cabrera, Gerardo Carillo, Alvin Dizon, Eugenio Gabuya Jr., and Noel Wenceslao.

Delute alleged that the city officials committed “grave misconduct and abuse of authority” in releasing P20,000 calamity assistance to officials, including themselves, and employees in 2013 since they were not directly hit by the magnitude 7.2 earthquake and typhoon Yolanda in 2013.

He also alleged that Rama abused his authority in the implementation of the budget ordinance. Delute said the City Council only allowed P61 million for the calamity assistance, but Rama “augmented the amount with P23 million more without authority from the City Council.”

Maratas presented the certified copy of the budget ordinance yesterday to disprove Delute’s allegation.

Maratas said the budget that Delute referred to as augmentation is not true, since the said budget was charged to other departments in the city which was approved by the City Council.  Delute said the City Council did not qualify who will get the calamity assistance. But, Maratas presented the minutes of the regular session on December 18, 2013 of the City Council.

The minutes states that it was City Councilor Margarita Osmeña, who was not included in the case, who asked City Councilor Sisinio Andales what qualified employees means.

Andales said qualified employees who will get the calamity aid are those regular and casual employees as of October 2013.    (FREEMAN)