Bohol Board Member Mimi Boniel has slammed the Aumentado administration for allegedly bypassing and disrespecting her office in the deployment of brand new government-owned vehicles.
In a privilege speech delivered during the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Boniel said that while she respects individual choices “but I can only hope in the future that on matters involving our people’s welfare, political partisanship be set aside for the greater good.”
According to her, the remainder of the 14 units Nissan Navara pickups purchased for use in the amount of P25 million by the members of the SP have been delivered and distributed.
While other colleagues have been duly notified and got theirs, her office was not given such courtesy, the Boholana solon said.
She said she was surprised to know that the vehicle intended for her office was already appropriated by somebody else.
Boniel clarified that she takes no personal issue on the subject but as a matter of propriety and delicadeza, she should have been notified.
She said she does not consider it an insult to her person but an affront to the many who voted and elected her into office.
Boniel said she never thought of availing of such privilege especially in the midst of the economic hardships experienced by many people in Bohol.
“I cannot in clean conscience and comfort afford to play deaf and dumb to the sentiments of their fellow Boholanos during these difficult times,” she said.
She noted that everyday, their offices are besieged by requests for financial and medical assistance by poor Boholanos.
“Our resources are not enough to address them, more so that our budget for AICS has been drastically reduced,” she said.
“Any precious resource we could save could go towards helping more of our needy brothers and promote better public service,” Boniel said.
She clarified that not using the controversial Navara is her personal choice, which she sees fit to becoming a good public servant.
She said she believes they can do their legislative jobs with or without Navara.