Rift between Taguig's top two execs worsens

MANILA, Philippines - Taguig Vice Mayor George Elias asked yesterday the camp of Mayor Laarni Cayetano to stop reportedly fabricating stories that result in controversies.

Elias alleged that the Cayetano camp intends to destroy the image of her predecessor, now Rep. Sigfrido Tiñga, and paint themselves as underdogs to gain public sympathy.

He was reacting to a series of statements from Cayetano’s camp accusing her predecessor of illegally disposing of city-owned vehicles and equipment and the destruction of city hall facilities.

 “All negative allegations being thrown by the allies of Cayetanos against the past administration, and us from the opposition are unfounded. The acts of their camp are truly a contradiction of the reconciliatory gesture that Cayetano proclaimed in her press statements,” Elias said.

He said the donation of the city’s vehicles and equipments to various barangays would improve the delivery of services by barangay employees and enable barangays to immediately respond to emergencies and calamities, particularly with the onset of the La Niña weather phenomenon.

“It will ensure that services will reach the barangays. The donations were done months ago, even before the elections, on the request of the barangay captains that they be given more autonomy. And as we can see, they were right in requesting for this, since they wanted to have the freedom to execute their own programs, and gain autonomy by being totally independent from city hall,” Elias said.

He also belied Cayetano’s claims that the donations were done without just cause and is only intended to paralyze or sabotage the operation of the incoming administration.

Elias said proper procedures were observed in the donation of the vehicles and equipment, backed by deeds of donation as mandated by the Local Government Code.

 “This is clearly and surely good politics because we are empowering the barangays. They (Cayetano camp) are the ones who should refrain from politicking and resorting to black propaganda,” he said.

Elias said among the rumors are that several offices at the city hall were vandalized and the restrooms filled with human waste. “All their accusations are unfounded and in the end, they are part of a scripted story,” he said.

Elias said last Tuesday, witnesses said a defeated congressional candidate brought a dilapidated computer monitor into the vacant Public Information Office (PIO) before calling two photographers. He said the defeated bet claimed equipment are missing in several offices, and what are left are not operational.

Elias also said that just after Cayetano was proclaimed mayor, a tear gas canister was set off outside city hall, causing a stampede. He said the mayor’s husband, Sen. Allan Peter Cayetano, immediately accused Tiñga’s supporters of being behind the incident.

A subsequent police investigation showed that the tear gas canister, whose pin was accidentally removed, was in the possession of Cayetano’s security escort, Elias said.

 “The mayor told us she is offering us the hand of friendship. She is saying one thing, but her allies are doing the complete opposite. It’s about time that they truly work for the good of Taguig and our people,” Elias said.