Provincial Legal Officer (PLO) Nilo Ahat says the governor has the power to allocate government office spaces in the light of the governor’s plan to use the office allocated to the Vice Governor as a receiving area.
PLO Nilo Ahat in an interview over Open Forum radio program today, Thursday, May 14, said there is legal basis for Gov. Arthur Yap ‘s latest action in respect to the use of the Vice Governor’ s office.
Reports say that the governor is going to use the office allocated to the Vice Governor as needed space to accommodate the people seeking audience with him.
The governor’s plan about the office was contained in a memorandum sent by Yap to Dr. Glicerio Doloritos, the Provincial General Services Officer.
The issue stems from an allegation that Yap blocked Acting Vice Governor Dionisio Victor Balite from using the office allocated to Vice Governor Rene Relampagos.
Moreover, Ahat said that Balite can perform the duties of the Acting Vice Governor without the need to move into the office originally allocated to Relampagos.
Further, Ahat said that Balite has his own office space allocation in the Provincial Capitol as senior board member.
Additionally, Ahat said that the Vice Governor’s office is allocated to Relampagos and that there are accountable documents and items which are under the responsibility of the latter.
In Yap’s letter to Doloritos, it was mentioned that the governor asked the permission of Relampagos to use the office.