Rep. George Arnaiz of the 2nd district of Negros Oriental confirmed on Thursday that he, indeed, met with the other two congressional representatives of the province and many Provincial Board Members on Tuesday evening in Metro Manila but only for a social gathering.
Rep. Arnaiz clarified that it was merely a social event and those present stayed away from talking politics and instead, celebrated in part the appointment of Vice Mayor Rodrigo Alanano of Dauin town as the newest Provincial Board Member of Negros Oriental. Arnaiz shunned public speculation of possible alliances among the local officials belonging to different political parties in preparation for the 2013 elections.
Alanano’s appointment fills in the vacuum at the Provincial Board that was created following the deaths of Governor-elect Emilio Macias II in June, 2010, and his successor, Vice Governor-elect Agustin Perdices, who also died last January, just over six months after he became governor.
In fact, it was Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong (Liberal Party) who invited Rep. Arnaiz (NPC) and Rep. Henry Pryde Teves (Lakas-Kampi-CMD) to the dinner, which was also attended by former Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, Vice Mayor Alanano, Vice Governor Apolinario Arnaiz, Board Members Erwin Macias, Millimoore Saycon, Rotelio Lumjod, Edmund Nalam, Arnie Teves, and Peve Ligan, said Arnaiz.
Arnaiz said he is not privy about the reason for the trip of the other Board Members belonging to the other political parties in Negros Oriental to the National Capital Region on Tuesday.
Early on in the day, Negros Oriental Board members belonging to the Nationalist People’s Coalition had also met with Arnaiz for a scheduled NPC party gathering, which unfortunately was cancelled last minute, the solon explained.
According to Arnaiz, the Board Members belonging to the NPC-Negros Oriental were invited to the supposed national gathering so they could meet with other party members as well, to possibly source funds for various projects in the province from Partylist representatives.
The invitation was optional, and it was the NPC Board Members’ choice to attend, said Arnaiz.
Arnaiz, meanwhile, declined to comment on a mounting issue in the province in which Provincial Board Member Saleto Erames (NPC) is asking that Board Members who failed to attend last Tuesday’s regular session must explain their absence. Erames lamented that their absence had caused a failure to hold a regular session for lack of quorum.
Aside from Erames, only those present last Tuesday were Board Members Liland Estacion, Georgita Martinez and Scott Wayne Hussein. (PNA/ Judy Flores Partlow)