Mayor JVR twits Villarante: “Instead of hitting me, wait ‘til you’re mayor”

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Mayor Johnny De los Reyes said his opponent and former ally, apparently referring to Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante, should wait for his turn as mayor instead of criticizing the administration at the City Hall, especially on the hiring of employees.

“Mag-mayor una sila,” De los Reyes told reporters when sought for comment regarding the criticism against his act of hiring 39 confidential employees, some of whom were members of his family.

According to De los Reyes, his administration needed to hire these employees because to help the city government in the delivery of basic services to the constituents.

Based on an initial list of confidential employees, the mayor’s relatives were: Clifford De los Reyes, Dorcel De los Reyes, Jackie Lou De los Reyes, Jim De los Reyes, Richardlie De los Reyes, Johnson Joy Pagusan and Jo Fred Siasico.

De los Reyes said he hired the confidential employees because he has no consultants.

Villarante however retorted by saying the mayor was lying again. “Unsa? Wala  siya’y consultants? Kato diay among (City Council) gi-aprobahan nga mga consultants; dili diay to niya consultants? Para kang kinsa man diay to?” he asked.

City Councilor Danilo Caballero, an ally of Villarante, also assailed JVR by saying that if the mayor “cares for Talisaynons, he should slash down the number of his employed relatives and give priority to other people.”

The JVR administration hired 1,000 job order workers, but 400 of them failed to receive their honoraria until now, said Villarante.

Last Tuesday morning, at least 300 JOs staged a rally outside the City Council’s session hall to air their gripes over the delay in the release of their honoraria.

Villarante said the JVR administration exceeded in hiring JOs because the City Council only approved a budget intended for 600 of them.

So far, the JOs did not receive their honoraria, covering August 16 to 30 and September 1 to 15, because these have no appropriation, added the vice mayor. —Garry B. Lao (FREEMAN)