MALONZO AIDES DENOUNCED: ‘Rice politics’ stirs Caloocan

An officer of the Division of City Schools in Caloocan yesterday denounced local government officials for allegedly raiding their office after they received sacks of rice from Rep. Luis Asistio, Mayor Rey Malonzo’s political rival.

Administration Officer Asuncion Manalo said Malonzo’s aides led by city administrator Mamerto Manahan and Secretary to the Mayor Francisco Veza barged into the Division Office Thursday and accused public school teachers of "electioneering" for taking Asistio’s donation.

In her letter to Division Superintendent Elizabeth Manalo, the administration officer said that city hall officials and policemen barged into the office at about 4:30 p.m.

"Manahan questioned us about the dispensing of the sacks of rice by our office to teachers of the second district," Manalo said.

She added that Malonzo’s men confronted employees there about the apparent use of the city building as storage for the 800 sacks of rice Asistio gave them.

"Mr. Manahan also said that employees involved could be charged with electioneering. But how can that be if the elections are still far away?" she said.

But according to Manahan, they only went to the Division Office to set the record straight that the sacks of rice did not come from the city government.

"I also wanted to question them on the legality of storing sacks of rice in the building because it has yet to be turned over to the division office," Manahan said.

But Manalo said Property Officer Gregorio Cabatundo gave the information that the building had been turned over to the Division Office in a simple ceremony which was even attended by Malonzo.

"Their accusations were so frustrating that they do not deserve our respect and esteem as public officials," Manalo said in her letter.

In an interview, Manahan said that this could be a case of "pure politics" because Manalo used to be the secretary of then Mayor Asistio.

"We obtained documents that proves Manalo was the one who signed the distribution of Asistio rice. Being his former employee, we should know the connection," Manahan said.