by Dave S. Albarado
The Bohol Tribune, last week, ran the story about the certification issued by the Provincial Government of Bukidnon which belied the allegations made by 2nd District Congressman Erico Aristotle Aumentado regarding the spoiled rice supplies in Ubay town.
After the denial of the Provincial Government of Bukidnon, Aumentado admitted that he got incomplete information about who sent the ruined food aid to Ubay.
According to Aumentado during his FIRST INTERVIEW conducted by a broadcaster of the station-produced “Inyong Alagad” program over dyRD-AM, he declared that the province of Bukidnon sent relief food packs to Ubay. However, after The Bohol Tribune ran last week the story regarding this matter, Aumentado was again interviewed in the same radio station and made another declaration that it was not the Province of Bukidnon who sent the relief food packs but the town of Quezon in Bukidnon province.
He said, “Mismo ako nag tug-an ta na gikan na sa Bukidnon. Ang impormasyon kuwang, ang LGU [local government unit] nagkuwang sa pagpahibalo na gikan diay na sa isa ka lungsod, Municipality of Quezon Bukidnon”.
The solon added that he mentioned the Province of Bukidnon during his interview on January 13, 2022, to shed light on the issue that allegedly the relief food packs from the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) were not distributed and left to spoil at the bus terminal of Ubay owned by the LGU.
Additionally, it was alleged that some of the sacks of rice were already thrown at the town’s dumpsite.
He clarified, “Nihatag ko ug information tungod kay nagkainit naman ang issue nga amo kunong gibinuangan ang hinatag sa taga Province [of Bohol]. Nitug-an lang pod ko sa tinuod kon unsa na information ang gibato gikan sa LGU Ubay nga gikan sa Bukidnon. Dili man pod kumpleto ang information na ilang gehatag nako so akoa rapong ge relay sa akong nahibaw.-an.”
BACKGROUND
Kevin Damalerio, Gov. Arthur Yap’s executive assistant and political officer, in his post on March 11, 2022 revealed the position of the Provncial Government of Bukidnon regarding the alleged spoiled relief goods given purportedly to the town of Ubay.
Aumentado, in a radio interview on Jan. 13, 2022 with a broadcaster on Inyong Alagad program, asserted that the Province of Bukidnon gave spoiled sacks of rice to the local government unit (LGU) -Ubay.
According to Aumentado, these were the same sacks of spoiled rice that were allegedly stored at the LGU-owned bus terminal in Ubay as shown in the video that was posted by Damalerio on Jan. 12, 2022.
Aumentado, during the interview said: “Ang tinuod mga kaigsoonan, kanang ilang gipalakaw nga naay bugas nga gipanglabog kono, matud sa taga LGU Ubay, hinatag kana sa Province of Bukidnon. Pag-abot didto sa lungsod sa Ubay, basa nana. So laktud pagka istorya ang-ang ug ihatag ug tiwas sa mga katawhan nga madaot man ang tawo.”
The solon added, “Kanang bugas nga gikan sa Bukidnon pag-abot anha dinhi sa Bohol basa nana, unya gihatud sa lungsod sa Ubay basa na gyud kaayo ang 18 ka sako. So unsaon man kuno nila na basa naman so na damaged ang maong bugas [gikan] sa Province of Bukidnon.”
Aumentado’s statement on Jan. 13, 2022 was a reaction to the post of Damalerio on Jan. 12, 2022.
Damalerio went to Ubay to probe what happened to the rice supplies provided by the Provincial Government of Bohol to LGU Ubay.
“Gitambak lang ang tanang hinabang didto sa usa ka pasilidad nga gipanag-iya sa LGU [Ubay]. Nabasa na sa ulan ang mga bugas ug ubang mga pagkaon kay ang ilang gibutangan, guba ang atop, ug mabasa sa ambi sa uwan. Walay rason nga dili madaut ang mga pagkaon nga unta kung gipanghatag pa sa katawhan, napuslan pa unta ug nakabusog sa gakutoy nga tiyan”, Damalerio asserted in his post.
Likewise, Damalerio revealed the findings of his investigation as he quipped, “Nangutana ko sa palibot, diha koy gibisita nga kapitan ug personal nakong gipangutana kung unsa gyud ang nahitabo. Matud niya, gisultihan kuno sila ni Congressman nga dili ipadawat ug ipanghatag ang hinabang gikan sa administrasyon ni Art Yap ug Rene Relampagos aron masuko ang tawo sa duha ka opisyal ug aron makapalakaw sila ug storya nga walay gitabang ang Kagamhanan Probinsyal ngadto sa taga Ubay. “
BUKIDNON’S REACTION
The Provincial Government of Bukidnon issued a certification on Feb. 7, 2022 through the Office of the Provincial Governor of Bukidnon-Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Division signed by Israel Johan M. Damasco Jr., of the said office.
The certification states, “the Provincial Government of Bukidnon – Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Division have not sent donation in the form of goods- spoiled SACKS OF RICE to the Municipality of Ubay, Province of Bohol as alleged by Congressman Erico Aristotle Aumentado, Bohol 2nd District Representative. Several municipalities and 1 city in the Province of Bukidnon were likewise affected by Typhoon Odette thus extending our assistance to other provinces is constraint.”
The Office of the Provincial Governor of Bukidnon issued this certification following an order from Atty. Paul Vincent G. Villegas, the Provincial Legal Officer of Bukidnon and OIC Provincial Administrator, in a directive letter issued on February 7, 2022, addressed to Damasco, which states, “there were allegations made by Bohol’s 2nd District Congressman Erico Aristotle Aumentado that the Provincial Government of Bukidnon donated and sent spoiled bags of rice. Accordingly, the bags of rice that were donated by us were already wet and were not in good condition upon receipt in Ubay town.”
The said letter further indicates, “In light of these allegations, the Provincial Government of Bukidnon is inclined to send a response to clear the name of our Province and deny this unfounded claims and allegations by the above-mentioned Congressman.”
DAMALERIO CHIDES DYRD/BOHOLCHRONICLE OVER ALLEGED BIAS
After the interview with Aumentado, the Bohol Chronicle released a news item and such news item is reportedly a result of a fact checking activity which the media outlet did regarding the post of Damalerio.
The said media outlet tagged Damalerio’s post as “misleading”.
In response, Damalerio posted a statement on his Facebook account.
Damalerio quipped, “Nganong na-misleading akong post? Gi-review ba lage ninyo ang inyong interview with Aris Aumentado niadtong January 13, 2022? Naa ba’y gi-mention si Aris nga gikan to sa Quezon Bukidnon? Ang iyang gi-ingon nga gikan to sa PROVINCE OF BUKIDNON. I-apil na sa inyong news.”
Damalerio added, “Ayaw ko sulti-i nga misleading akong post. Kamo maoy master anang misleading nga post. Hawd mo anang dapita. Unsay gibuhat ninyo?”
Damalerio cited two posts from the Bohol Chronicle which he called as “misleading” news.
First, Damalerio referred to a news item published by the Bohol Chronicle quoting the representatives of the distribution utilities (DU) in Bohol during the press conference held at the Capitol, explaining to the public the reason for the increase in the prices of electricity charges for the month of January and February 2022.
Damalerio said, “Tan-awa, maski distribution utilities like Bohol Light, Boheco [Bohol Electric Cooperative] 1, Boheco 2 ang nagsulti nga momahal ang balayronon sa kuryente tungod kay power barge ang gigamit sa pagpasuga sa Bohol, [apan] ang nahitabo sa inyong news [ang] nawng ni VG Rene Relampagos inyong gibutang.”
Damalerio also pointed out the post released by the Bohol Chronicle on its Facebook account quoting a statement from presidential candidate – Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson.
Damalerio said: “Ikaduha, nangampanya si [Sen.] Ping Lacson nga di pabotaran ang corrupt, [nga kandidato] ug ang inyong gibutang sa inyong news, nawng ni Ping Lacson kauban si [Gov.] Art Yap. Nganong naa man [ang hulagway ni] Art Yap sa news [bahin sa awhag ni Lacson]? Kung fair pa mo, nganong dili man ninyo ibutang apil ang picture ni Ping Lacson ug Aris Aumentado?” Damalerio quipped.
“Diba klaro kaayo inyong bias?” he added.
He further wrote, “Kanang programa ninyo nga ‘Inyong Alagad’ pulihi nalang na ug ‘Alagad ni Aris Aumentado”.
Damalerio continued, “Payt gyud diha. Paningkamot gyud mo ug panaut. Pasikati na’s Aris kay mao manay masulod sa inyong bulsa. Si Gov. Art Yap kay di man ninyo madiktaran, di ninyo ma-itoy itoy. Mao nga adto nalang mo’s limited edition ug utok kay madiktaran man ninyo.”
He ended his post as he wrote, “Dili importante kung diin gikan ang hinabang. Ang importante nganong nabasa man na? Nganong waman gipanghatag? Plus, suwayi kuno ug tandi kung pareho ba ang sako nga gilabay sa dumpsite ug ang mga sinako nga allegedly gikan aa Quezon, Bukidnon? Maski Grade 1 nga bata makasulti gyud nga ang mga sako nga gilabay sa dumpsite pareho sa sako nga hinatag sa Provincial Government of Bohol.”
Damalerio’s latest scathing post earned 3, 400 shares as of press time and got several reactions from netizens.
MORE COMMENTS
The Bohol Tribuhe reached out to Damalerio in order to get additional comments.
He said, “Wala koy gipanganlan sa akong post. Sa pag react ni Aris Aumentado, sa iyang pagpa-interview niadtong January 13, 2022, tabla ra ug iyang gi-angkon nga siya gyud ang naigo sa post.”
He added, “Lisod lage ning isda nga gamay ra’g utok kay mabitik gyud pinaagi sa iyang baba.”
He concluded, “Dili importante kung diin gikan ang hinabang, ang importante nganong nabasa man na? Nganong waman gipanghatag? Plus, suwayi kuno ug tandi kung pareho ba ang sako nga gilabay sa dumpsite ug ang mga sinako nga allegedly gikan aa Quezon, Bukidnon? Maski grade 1 nga bata makasulti gyud nga ang mga sako nga gilabay sa dumpsite pareho sa sako nga hinatag sa Provincial Government of Bohol.”