GUMACA, QUEZON -- Gumaca Mayor Webster Letargo has filed a complaint affidavit for oppression and grave abuse of authority at the Office of the Sangguniang Panglalawigan (SP) against his vice mayor and Sangguniang Bayan (SB) presiding officer Erwin Caralian and 7 SB members in connection with the continuous disapproval of the 2021 annual budget of the municipal government of Gumaca.
Accused with Caralian are SB members Noel Dacillo, Marilou Mendoza, Fernando Manalo, Elenita Lumenario, Prescilla Gina Magbuhos, Stephanie Marquez and Ramon Reynante Castillo for failing to enact the annual budget 2021 “for purely malicious, capricious and partisan political motive.”
Letargo asked the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for 60 days preventive suspension against Caralian and the 7 town councilors as “there are strong evidence that respondents are guilty of gross neglect of duty, oppression and grave abuse of discretion in not approving the annual budget.”
Excluded from the complaint are SB members Ruvilon Juancho Mercurio, John Gemver Ylagan and Rico Banal as the 3 have tried and persisted to move for the approval of the annual budget worth P256 million.
Letargo said the complaint is being filed in behalf of the people of his town “who have been directly prejudiced by adamant posturing of the Sangguniang Bayan which deprived residents of the much-needed programs, projects and activities and services during the crucial time of Covid-19 pandemic.”
The mayor said that the executive branch of the municipal government has already addressed all the concerns raised by the SB and had repeatedly informed the legislative branch of the available options but the SB continued to delay the approval of the annual budget as it adopted on May 24, 2021 SB Kapasiyahan Blg. 217-2021 entitled “Tuwinang Itinatala ang Panukalang Taunang Laang Gugulin sa Nakatalang Gawain (Calendar of Business).”
With the continuous disapproval of the annual budget, Letargo has recounted the implied disadvantages of a reenacted budget such as no creation of positions, no new programs, projects and activities; no utilization of the increase in Internal Revenue Allotment for the year, non-implementation of non-recurring vital activities and no supplemental appropriations.
Letargo’s filing of the complaint at the SP coincided with the preventive suspension of 8 SP members for 60 days by the Office of the President which was implemented by the Dept. of Interior and Local Government last Nov. 11.