Vice Gov. Rene Relampagos bared that the manifesto released that called for a change in provincial leadership was not discussed during the contractors’ meeting according to his source.
The revelation of the vice governor comes as a weekly newspaper (not The Bohol Tribune) released a news item with accompanying manifesto which appeared as a paid advertisement on Apr. 24, 2022 saying that “concerned contractors of Bohol” warned if the current provincial government leadership remains in power, the alleged anomalies “will not only continue but will become worse than ever”.
The vice governor revealed in an exclusive radio interview on Apr. 28, 2022 over Open Forum hosted by Gloria Leodivica Araneta, that a contractor called him saying that the meeting attended by contractors did not include in its agenda the concern regarding the call to change the provincial government leadership.
The contractor reached out to Relampagos in relation to the news story and accompanying paid advertisement purportedly by the contractors’ group that appeared in the Apr. 24, 2022 edition of weekly newspaper The Bohol Chronicle, where the contractors called for a change in the leadership at the Capitol.
Relampagos named the leader of the contractors’ group as Engr. Petronilo Sarigumba.
In the paid advertisement, the contractors’ group aired several allegations of corruption and wrong doings committed by the Yap-Relampagos administration.
“Ang ilang mga alegasyon, mga irregularity o kaha dili maayong binuhatan mga matud pa nila, they consider it as a corrupt practice,” Relampagos said.
THE REVELATION
Relampagos bared that a contractor, whose name appeared as one among the signatories of the manifesto, called him to report that his signature appeared on the paid advertisement that purportedly called for the change in provincial leadership.
The contractor who called the vice governor is the one managing Maluenda Construction. The vice governor said that the name of the manager is Ryan Maluenda, Relampagos told The Bohol Tribune this information in another telephone interview.
“Ilang [Maluenda construction] gipaabot diha kanako, nga wala silay [contractors’ group] gikaigo-an mahitungod atong nigawas nga advertisement nga nahipatik sa Bohol Chronicle,” Relampagos explained.
He added: “Matud nila, that [the call for government change] was not taken up in their [contractors’ group] meeting. Kay matud pa niya ang gitake up sa ilang meeting mao man ang paghisgot anang common concern nila [contractors] mahitungod sa price escalation diin na prejudice ang ilang pagtrabaho sa ilang mga proyekto.”
The contractor who called Relampagos denied that he agreed to have his signature placed in the paid advertisement.
“Matud pa niya [Maluenda] wala man silay gipamirmahan mahitungod atong so-called resolution. Matud niya, kwan kuno to attendance sheet ang ilang gibutang adto [referring to the manifesto shee that appeared in The Bohol Chronicle’s paid advertisement],” Relampagos said.
Relampagos quipped that there was deception that transpired which was allegedly done by those behind the paid advertisement with the clear intent of demolishing the character of the provincial leadership and allies of Gov. Arthur Yap.
The vice governor was informed that another contractor’s statement corroborates with the Maluenda revelation.
“This is corroborated, kay just this noon [Apr. 28, 2022], nagkaistorya pud mi sa akong igsoon ang mayor sa lungsod sa Loon [Elvi Relampagos] diin iya kong giistoryahan nga giistoryahan pud siya sa mayor sa lungsod sa Calape nga si Mayor [Nelson] Yu, diin gepanghimakak usab sa lain pud nga signatory atong paid ad nga minggawas nga usa ka gamay nga contractor nga based sa lungsod sa Calape,” Relampagos retorted.
The contractor revealed to Mayor Yu that the issue on government change was never discussed during the meeting and the signatures appearing in the paid advertisement were lifted from the signatoies’ list for the meeting’s attendance sheet.
BACKGROUND
The report of Bohol Chronicle said that 17 contractors purportedly signed an appeal saying that there is a need for a new leadership change in the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) as they pushed for a “clean government”.
The appeal also contained the endorsement of the candidacy of Cong. Erico Aristotle Aumentado as governor of Bohol. He is the chief contender of Yap in the gubernatorial race.
RENE’S POSITION
Relampagos suspects that the paid ad that appeared in The Bohol Chronicle only had one purpose: it is a demolition job against the governor.
“Una lang ang tuyo ana, naalarma na siguro ning mga tawhana, labi na sa gipagawas nga survey result sa Holy Name University [nga] mao gayud [ang] ma respected nga polling institution dinhi sa lalawigang Bol-anon [ug] makita man nato nga nag-una ug dili lang nag-una kon dili napakita pod nga hayag sa umaabot nga piniliay karong Mayo 9, modaog gayud si Gov. Art Yap. So, naningkamot kini sila taman sa ilang mahimo sa nahabilin nga mga adlaw nga asang dapita nga maguba nila o madaot nila si Gov. Art Yap,” he explained.
Relampagos said that criticisms against the government are welcome as long as there is factual basis of the assertions of wrongdoing against the provincial leadership.
However, Relampagos sees that the release of the paid ad is to demolish the character of Yap and to help propel Aumentado’s bid for the governorship.