“Days of corrupt town officials numbered” – Rosario

Mayor Sam Rosario (extreme right), Consultant
Hernani Braganza of the  Department of Interior
and Local Government, and Vice President Je-
jomar Binay posed to honor the flag.

By MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

 BINMALEY – After suspending two department heads here, the mayor warned recently corrupt municipal officials and personnel that their days are already numbered.
Mayor Simplicio Rosario declared in a press conference in September 24 that scoundrels should brace themselves as long as he is the chief executive of this town. “Sa mga taong inaabuso ang kanilang position sa paglikom ng salapi para sa kanilang negosyo, sinasabi ko sa inyo tapos na ang maligayang araw ninyo. Habang nandito ako maghanda kayo sa inyong kinagagawi-ang pagnanakaw ng salapi ng kaban ng bayan,” he stressed in Pilipino.
 In August 27 Rosario issued the preventive suspension for 60 days of municipal accountant Gertrudez C. Reyes and Municipal Budget Officer Jeffrey de los Angeles after they were administratively charged by the mayor with dishonesty, misconduct in office, gross negligence, and dereliction of duty at the Civil Service Office.
This town administrator lawyer Armenio Escat, Jr. said the 60 days suspension is not a punishment but a measure for the duo not to manipulate records and influence other people because of their position.
 One of the charges against them was their alleged conspiracy with former mayor Lorenzo Cerezo in exhausting the funds at the mayor’s office six months before the end of this year.
Rosario said they are the Office Equipment Maintenance, Other Repair & Maintenance, Other Expenses, Advertising & Printing Expenses, for Program/Projects/Activities, Maintenance, Upkeeping of Infrastructure, Etc., and Furniture & Equipment Outlay of the public coffer exhausted after he took office in June 30 this year.
 He cited the balances of the appropriation of P700,000.00 for the mayor’s gasoline, oil, and lubricants expenses that have been squandered to zero sum six months before the end of the fiscal year.
Rosario said his administration mulls the anti-graft and corruption case he would file against the respondents on the administrative case.
 Rosario denounced Marilyn Zamora, the dismissed Human Resources Officer, who deceived the public with her pronouncements that she was unjustly prosecuted by Rosario. “Nakisaw-saw pa sa gulo at isyu si Zamora. Pinatanggal kuno, hindi naman. Ang totoo hindi ni renew ang kanyang kontrata sa kanyang position. Ginamit pa niya ang media at iba pang paraan (para sabihin ang nangyari sa kanya)”.
 The people of this first class town, Rosario said, is fed up with the old practice of corruption by municipal officials. He said for starters, the bidding process of all municipal projects will be open to the public. “Pina-aabot ko sa inyong lahat habang ako ang naka-upong mayor hindi ko hahayaan na mana-ig ang corruption. Inumpisahan po naming ang bidding open lahat.Walang pinipili kung sino ang mananalo. Ang hangarin ko bilang alkalde ng bayan na ito ay protektahan ng interest ng bayan”. He said his aim is to make this town great and corruption free.