LP, UNA swap charges

MANILA, Philippines - The ruling Liberal Party (LP) and the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) are swapping charges over the suspension of Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia and accusations against Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino.

In a news conference, LP Representatives Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar and Mel Senen Sarmiento of Western Samar laughed off UNA’s claim that the ruling party is engaged in a “power grab” and “politicking.”

Evardone, whom his party has designated as acting spokesman, said it was unfair for the “opposition” to level such charges against LP leaders, including President Aquino and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Manuel Roxas II, the party’s president-on-leave.

“The President and his administration are just enforcing the law in a fair and an impartial manner, without regard to whoever gets it. This policy has been uniformly carried out, and some of our party mates have been on the receiving end,” he said.

In a separate news conference, UNA accused Roxas and the LP of escalating the tension in Cebu following the suspension of Garcia.

UNA Secretary General Toby Tiangco said the suspension order was meant to replace Garcia and install the vice governor, who is a member of the LP.

“Right now, the DILG and the LP are escalating tension at the provincial capitol by dispersing her supporters and turning the grounds into a garrison,” Tiangco said.

Tiangco said the actions against Garcia are reminiscent of the efforts to suspend then Makati mayor Jejomar Binay during the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2006.

Binay fought the suspension order and went to the Court of Appeals (CA), which ordered the lifting of the suspension a few days later.

“We appeal to the DILG and the LP not to use force and allow Gov. Garcia the opportunity to seek legal redress,” Tiangco said.

Tiangco said Garcia received information that the police will force her out of the provincial capitol building under orders from the DILG.

He said Garcia is determined to stand her ground.

“Right now, the authorities are escalating tension by dispersing her supporters and turning the Capitol grounds into a garrison,” Tiangco said.

Evardone, however, said it is UNA that is engaged in politicking by putting political color to Garcia’s suspension and the investigation on the jueteng allegations against Espino.

“They are already casting a moist eye on the presidency. 2016 is still far off,” he added, referring to the 2016 presidential election.

Sarmiento, LP secretary general, said the administrative complaint against Garcia and the illegal gambling charges against Espino were among the cases awaiting action by the late DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo.

He said the administration has been acting on complaints against local officials, be they members of LP, UNA or other political parties.

“The ruling party does not influence state agencies where its own members are facing charges. Take the case of Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri. He was suspended (by the Ombudsman) in relation to an irregularity that took place before his term. He had to fight his own battle because he knows his party would not influence the ombudsman,” he said.

Evardone said another case is that of Kalinga Gov. Jocel Baac, whom Malacañang suspended for one month last June 27 for slapping a media practitioner.

“Like in the case of Gov. Garcia of Cebu, it was Executive Secretary (Paquito) Ochoa who signed the suspension order. Gov. Baac is a member of our party, but we could not do anything about his case. Justice has to take its course,” he said.

Evardone said the ruling party did not raise a howl when Lanao del Norte Gov. Khalid Dimaporo, who belongs to UNA, suspended Mayors Muammar Maquiling of Munai, Rafael Rizalda of Maigo and Rommel Arnado of Kauswagan “for various issues after they switched from UNA to LP.”

“We could have accused Gov. Dimaporo and UNA of political harassment,” he said.

Sarmiento urged UNA leaders to assess the cases of Garcia, who had switched from Lakas to UNA, and Espino, who belongs to the Nationalist People’s Coalition, “based on their merits.”

“There is no politics in the actions of the executive branch on the complaints against the two governors,” Evardone said.

At the same time, Evardone appealed to UNA to show the people that it is really a faithful partner in good governance of the administration and the ruling LP.

“Being the ruling party, the LP has members who are in the executive branch who have been trying to do their best in helping the President run our country and carry out his daang matuwid (straight path) advocacy,” he said. – Jose Rodel Clapano