By Ric Obedencio | 03:20 PM February 17, 2024
TAGBILARAN CITY – Bohol Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado and a concerned citizen, Ronnie Orillosa traded barbs over the alleged corruption.
Aumentado minced no words of exposing Orillosa’s alleged scam of asking 10% as “commission” or “cut” out of the infrastructure projects intended for Bohol.
The governor bared that Orillosa came to him and informed him that the P700 million infrastructure fund from Department of Education (DepEd) for rehabilitation of school buildings destroyed in the aftermath of the supertyphoon Odette was approved.
But the governor said that he doubted that the said approved DepEd fund really was the work of Orillosa, when in fact, it was Congresswoman Vanessa Aumentado, his wife, who wrote a letter-request to Vice President Sara Duterte for funding from the DepEd for the school’s repair.
The governor said that Orillosa told him that the 10 perecent cut from the DepEd fund was the order of an unnamed DepEd undersecretary. Orillosa told him that the fund “commission” is intended for the fund-raising for Vice-President Sara Duterte, who is also the DepEd secretary.
This irked the governor and instead of dealing the attempt of milking DepEd’s schools rehab fund, he referred the matter to the District Engineer Laga of the DPWH second engineering district where his wife represented.
Engr. Laga told the governor it is not possible of what Orillosa was asking after they talked in Clark.
The governor said that what will happen if the “cut” of 10% is taken from P700 million by the Orillosa group, there may not be enough funds for the school buildings repairs in the province, in the first place.
When asked if he ordered Ronnie to ask for “commission” the unnamed undersecretary denied the accusation, the governor said.
The governor vowed he won’t hesitate to bring this to the Vice-President’s attention.
Ronnie Orillosa, a concerned citizen, asked Aumentado to dismantle his “league of governors” who are allegedly asking money from bidders at the provincial government.
Orillosa, a former student leader and bet who was defeated in city councilor race, and admitted they’re friends with the governor, called for a presscon last week to expose the alleged cut or commission from suppliers.
When asked about specifics, Orillosa, however, refused to names names involved in the alleged shady transactions at the Capitol.
But he cited a Tagalog businessman interested in tourism who wanted to deal with the Capitol but backed out because of the “league of governors” alleged racket.
He said there are a lot who are interested to invest in Bohol, but hesitated, about fifty-fifty of them are willing. Still, he did not name the would-be investors.
He said that he has pity on the governor since he is “blinded” of what his “league of governors” are doing. “Luoy ang Bohol,” he said.
If the “league of governors” will not be dismantled, he asked the people to elect officials who are sincere in helping the people.
He named only provincial administrator Aster Caberte, a relative of the governor, as one of the “league of governors” that he also referred to as “cordon sanitaire.” (Ric V. Obedencio)
