By Francis Allan L. Angelo
THE two prominent aspirants to the Liga ng mga Barangay-Iloilo City presidency are trading barbs over their capabilities to head the group.
Incumbent Liga president Irene Ong said she has never been involved in any controversy since she assumed office in 2008.
Ong also boasted financial and legal assistance to barangay officials as among her achievements for the Liga.
Ong, a staunch ally of former secretary Raul M. Gonzalez Sr., said she will seek reelection as Liga president in December to cap her last term as punong barangay of President Roxas in the City Proper district.
Ong’s main rival is Punong Barangay Roberto Divingracia of San Agustin, City Proper.
Divinagracia is related to Iloilo City Rep. Jerry P. Treñas who is an ally of Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog.
Ong and Divinagracia were friends and allies before the Gonzalez-Treñas alliance broke down when Treñas decided to run for congress against former Rep. Raul T. Gonzalez Jr. in the 2010 national and local elections.
Replying to Ong’s statements, Divinagracia said his detractors are referring to the “un-liquidated” funds of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC)-City Proper which he headed before running for city councilor in May 2010.
Divinagracia said he has accounted the ABC funds but he did not release it to association members for fear that it will be used for politics.
“Within this week I will account and liquidate the funds. We can even divide the remaining money among the members,” he said.
Divinagracia said he is dismayed with Ong because the Liga does not have a voice in the council, particularly on issues affecting barangay officials.
“No one is crystallizing and making measures that will solve our problems such as our debacle with the Commission on Audit. We need someone who can represent us to the council and pass related measures,” he said.
Divinagracia also took a swipe at Ong saying the Liga head is good in establishing personal relationships with village chiefs by “lending them money.”
Asked for her reaction, Ong said in a text message: “Ano ko ga-mina kwarta (Do I mine money)? Instead of raising the morale of barangay officials, he is putting them down.”
No comments:
Post a Comment