TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines- Cagayan Vice Governor Melvin “Boy” Vargas hit back at the tirade of PDP-Laban Luzon chairman Martin Diño against the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) over the delayed passage of the province’s budget.
In an interview, Vargas said he “feel sorry” for Diño for not “knowing the real story first” before commenting against the provincial board.
Diño earlier claimed that the SP members are delaying the budget because of their “personal interests,” “ambition,” and “motives.” He also said he will help Mamba on the charges he filed at the Ombudsman.
“Iyon po ang kanyang personal na opinyon, pero bilang isang Cagayano, alam naman po natin kung ano ang nangyayari dito, at bilang isang bisita na dadayo po kayo sa isang probinsya, alamin po muna natin kung ano po ugali ng isang tao,” Vargas said.
Vargas said he was “saddened” over Diño’s pronouncements, adding that he, as “visitor,” should have asked their side first.
He said Diño’s statement that the provincial board has personal interests on the budget deliberations is a “great accusations.”
“Dahil po kapag sinabi po ninyong personal na interes ay matindi po iyong akusasyon, at sa amin naman po dito sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan, mayorya ng kasama kong board members ay naniniwala po kami at tinatayuan po namin ang aming paninindigan,” Vargas said.
‘Influence over judiciary?’
Vargas also questioned how Diño could help Mamba in charges against the SP at the Ombudsman.
“Doon naman po sa particular issue na tutulungan niya po ang ating gobernador na tutulangan niya po sa Ombudsman regarding po sa budget, ay palaisipan po sa atin ‘yun kung siya po ay may impluwensiya judiciary system,” he said.
“Naniniwala naman po kami na may sarili pong kakayahan, may sarili pong pag-iisip at hindi puwedeng maimpluwensiyahan ng kahit sinoman ang ating judiciary system, especially, po ang ating Ombudsman,” Vargas added.
He also Diño to watch their sessions as he reiterated that it is “right…to review the budget well.”
Pero nakakalungkot man isipin na hindi niya po muna pinakinggan ang aming side, because there are always two sides of a coin, ‘ika nga po, para sa ganun ay malaman niya po kung ano po ang ipinaglalaban natin at pinag-aaralan natin about sa proposed C.Y. 2017 budget of the province.
“Marami po tayong ipinaglalaban dito na hindi ko lang po sigurado kung alam po ito ni Sir Diño, lalung-alo na po iyong distribution of financial assistancena worth P500,000, na tayo po ay nagre-require po dito ng processing at line budgetting, mga district hospitals na pinasara, na pakiramdam natin ay kailangan nating lagyan ng pondo para po muli itong mabukas, yung mga nasagasaan po na provincial ordinances like scholars kung saan hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa po tayo nakakabigay,” he added.
As of posting, the provincial board already passed the budget, but has cut the budget of several departments. Northernforum.net
