Oliva suspects politics behind his transfer

CEBU, Philippines — Mandaue City Treasurer Regal Oliva believes that “politics” could be behind his transfer to Navotas City.

“Apparently, I do not know who requested but I was told that it was from the Office of the Speaker of the House. But I never saw the official communication,” Oliva said in a press conference yesterday.

Oliva has confirmed that he received a copy of the letter of Undersecretary Rolando Tungpalan, officer-in-charge of the Bureau of Local Government Finance of the Department of Finance, addressed to House Speaker Martin Romualdez dated April 18, 2024.

The letter, which has a subject: Endorsement of Dr. Anthony V. Aguhar as Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Treasurer of Mandaue City, Cebu, says that the “Office of the City Treasurer of Mandaue City is occupied by a permanent appointee, Atty. Regal M. Oliva. Hence, the position is not currently vacant”.

Oliva admitted that he did not receive a copy of a supposed letter of Romualdez addressed to Finance Secretary Ralph Recto.

“Only with the reply of BLGF. I got a copy of the reply of BLGF. I was furnished a copy that the position is not vacant. But as regards the letter of Romualdez writing to Recto, I did not see that. But I was told there was. But the letter of the BGLF is addressed to Martin Romualdez. So there should be a prior communication,” Oliva said.

Oliva insinuated that the local opposition in Mandaue may have a hand in his transfer.

“Duna gyuy local ato, nag-request kay of course. Officially, I don't know. Wala man siguro there's no official letter from the local level requesting but you can only, you know di man siguro bugo ang taga Mandaue. So you can just connect the dots. And the other political camp naman po, I have to be very honest that they've been harping on it. Kana bang sila man mismo nag-sigstorya nga mawa na ko dinhi. I mean ang kampo sa pikas ba nilang Ouano has been telling people. My friends even heard that kutub ra ko’g Agosto, kutub ra ko’g July. This year? Yes. It really came from their camp. So ako pud, I was so anxious about hearing these things ba,” he added.

Romualdez’s wife, Yedda, is the sister-in-law of outgoing Cebu Provincial Board Member Jonkie Ouano. Jonkie is the youngest brother of incumbent Mandaue City Lone District Rep. Emmarie “Lolypop” Ouano-Dizon.

Oliva explained that the city treasurer or the treasurer is also very crucial when it comes to elections because they are the custodian of electoral paraphernalia.

“And so, I may understand that since we have a duty in the political, especially during electoral process, then I'm the first one to go. And speculations or allegations of the other camp that I will not be the only one to go in this process is also circulating,” he said.

Oliva said a good friend told him that there has been move since January to oust him as city treasurer.

“And it's political. It's political. It's political and I am not sure. I don't like to reveal who it is because I don't have any proof. But it was sad that when a month after, on April, I was told by the Department of Finance mismo na gyud that there is a request for my transfer. And this (is) coming from the Speaker of the House. I don't know the reason why. There is no reason,” Oliva said.

He added that the DOF also had a difficult time transferring him because he has been serving Mandaue City since 2008 and he has no record of malfeasance, misfeasance, or any corruption or graft.

“So my record in the service of government has been very clean. But then, when it was already the Department of Finance who called me, there was already urgency on my part,” he said.

Oliva said he immediately talked to Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes about his impending transfer. The mayor immediately wrote a letter to DOF to stall his impending transfer and to inform the agency that the position is not vacant.

“But then, persistent pressure to the Department of Finance has been ongoing and in June of this year, they told me already that I will be the agenda of a meeting with the Secretary of Finance. Basically, for my removal,” Oliva said.

Oliva added that as of yesterday, he has not received any official communication on his transfer but calls were made by the executive director of the BLFG confirming that he will be transferred.

“And in fact, truth be told, I was already interviewed by the Mayor of Navotas and I will be starting pretty soon. But I'm just waiting for the order from the Department of Finance if I will push through or not,” he said.

Oliva said that his transfer is never a normal reshuffling because his appointment as treasurer in Mandaue City is a permanent capacity.

“So it is, I am appointed by the Office of the President through the Department of Finance Secretary. But then it's in a permanent capacity. So when you are removed, it should be for reasons. Most often than not, the reason that the treasurer will be removed from the local government unit is usually when the mayor requests. Totally different from this angle wherein I am removed from Mandaue City to be transferred to another local government unit wherein it is not the mayor who requested. Apparently, I do not know who requested but I was told that it was from the Office of the Speaker of the House,” Oliva said.

According to Oliva, the first offer he got was to be transferred to a municipality within Cebu Province. He did not accept because it was tantamount to demotion on his part.

“If they're going to transfer me, it would have been better if they transfer me to an equally standing city. So, with that in mind, that I might be transferred to a municipality, I told them, you transfer me to an equally situated city. And that might be the reason why I'm offered Metro Manila and Navotas City is vacant,” he said.

As to speculations that he will be running for an elective post,  he said that this is a democratic country and he may run for city councilor, for vice mayor, for mayor or even for Congress.

“Oh, wow. Why not? Diba? Anything can happen. Diba? With what's going on right now. With the political backlash that has been. You know, when you're a person who has never been into politics. Who do not want to meddle into political aspects and political things. And now, they're dragging me into it. Then maybe, maybe join the whole thing. I'll think about it because my doors are open. I still have time,” he said.

Should he decide to run, Oliva said he will definitely join Cortes’ group.(CEBU NEWS)