Board Member Ricky Masamayor said he will not stay in his post a minute longer if there is strong evidence to implicate him as the official who allegedly received P5 million protection money from a repa administrator.
This was the statement of Masamayor in a telephone interview with The Bohol Tribune on Nov. 13, 2021.
Masamayor went on to say that he will file charges against those who would implicate his name as the one who received the protection money but is unable to back the claim with strong evidence.
Masamayor who chairs the Committee on Peace and Order at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) is set to conduct a committee hearing tackling the exposè of Senior Board Member Dionisio Victor Balite.
On Nov. 9, 2021, Balite delivered a privilege speech alleging that a provincial official received P5 million protection money from a repa admin who is a certain Lizel Libranza. Balite did not mention the name of the official who allegedly received the protection money.
However, Masamayor felt alluded to as the one who allegedly received the protection money. He even confronted Balite during the session on Nov. 9, 2021. Masamayor said he felt alluded to as he heard Balite mention that the alleged protector of the repa admin is close to the police and other law enforcement agencies.
Masamayor is known to be close to the police and other law enforcement agencies given that he is the chairman of the peace and order committee.
At the same time, Masamayor believes that Balite’s exposè has something to do with politics.
“Naa gyud politika behind niini,” Masamayor added.
Masamayor is running for reelection as 1st district Board Member under the slate of incumbent Gov. Arthur Yap and Vice Gov. Rene Relampagos.
On the other hand, Balite is the running mate of gubernatorial candidate 2nd district Cong. Erico Aristotle Aumentado.
As it stands, Masamayor awaits Balite’s revelation regarding the identity of the official accused by Balite to have allegedly received the protection money.
Balite promised to reveal the identity of the official if the issue is tackled at the committee level.
Following the privilege speech, Masamayor, who is the SP’s majority floor leader, referred the matter to his Committee on Peace and Order.
However, if Balite will refuse to name the official during the committee meeting of the Committee on Peace and Order, Masamayor said that he will ask the Committee of the Whole to tackle the issue as every member of the SP may participate in the discussion to ferret the truth behind the allegations.
In the same telephone interview, Masamayor admitted that the matter should have been referred to the Committee on Good Government, which Balite chairs.
However, Masamayor said that the Committee on Good Government is allegedly slow in resolving issues.
“Naay mga tuig na kapin nga mga isyu nga wala niya maaksyonan ug dili kapunay mo patawag ug committee meetings,” Masamayor said.