‘Going after Tupas not an achievement’ -- SP Flores


BY JEZZA NEPOMOCENO

Panay News/ July 28, 2011

ILOILO – Endorsing to the Office of the Ombudsman the Commission on Audit (COA) report on the disallowances incurred during the administration of then Gov. Niel Tupas Sr. cannot be considered an accomplishment, said Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Gerardo Flores.

Flores was reacting to the State of the Province Address (SOPA) of Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. that, among others, cited the COA report in his administration’s drive to cleanse the provincial government of corruption.


“To say that alleged wrongdoers in the past administration were endorsed for prosecution is not an accomplishment,” Flores said in his privilege speech during the Provincial Board session yesterday.

Defensor delivered his SOPA on July 20.

“This is rather a covert strategy to convince the public that previous administration was crooked and deserves all forms of mercilessness,” Flores said.

“Let us avoid turning on the wang-wang for the glory that is not ours. Besides, the notice of disallowances was handed by the COA Regional Office. It can still be appealed in the national level,” he added.

Flores also said Defensor’s crusade against graft and corruption should not merely focus on the alleged anomalies during the Tupas administration, but should also cover his term.

Meanwhile, Flores commended the governor for the “No Commission, No S.O.P” policy in the province’s procurement processes.

However, he said, the procurement procedures need to be hastened as it is too slow and way too bureaucratic despite the governor’s slashing of the number of days for bidding process.

Defensor has reduced the bidding process from 60 to 30 working days.

Flores said the slow bidding process should have been solve already had the Bids and Awards Committee been receptive to the clamor against its “snail-like pace” and if only it avoided “chances to meet secretly like some kind of cult.”/PN
SP Gerardo Flores

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