Vice Gov. Edward Mark Macias and the five members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan whose vehicles are the subject of a recall order by Gov. Roel Degamo are crying harassment.
Insisting that they have the legal right to posses the vehicles because of a law passed by the provincial legislature, and signed by Degamo himself when he was still vice governor of Negros Oriental, the legislators say they will not surrender their vehicles.
“When the Governor issued the recall order April 1, we answered by way of a Sanggunian Resolution reminding him that the vehicles were intended for the Provincial Board members and for the Vice Governor,” Macias told the MetroPost.
He said the order to surrender their vehicles hinders them from performing their jobs, but he assured the public that they are finding ways of serving the public even though they do not use their government-issued vehicles.
During the regular session last Monday, the concerned officials arrived at the Capitol on private vehicles, while Macias rode his mountain bike. Photos of him riding his bicycle went viral on Facebook.
Meanwhile, Provincial Atty. Richard Enojo said the Board Members and the Vice Governor no longer have authority to possess or use the vehicles issued to their offices.
This was after Board Member Rommel Erames called “illegal” the executive order of Governor Degamo, ordering the confiscation of service vehicles issued to SP members.
Enojo said that if Vice Governor Macias, and Board Members Mariant Escano- Villegas, Jessica Villanueva, Peve Ligan, Edmund Dy, and Georgita Martinez believe the EO is illegal, they can bring the matter to court.
But Enojo also said there is no need to file a case because it is “very clear” that the five Strada pick-ups and one Montero Sports vehicle are owned by the Province, and that their “custodian is the Governor”.
Enojo challenged the SP members and Vice Governor Macias to use the vehicles in public, if they believe the EO is illegal.
Enojo said that the ordinance was passed, and approved to justify the purchase of the vehicles to be used in monitoring and inspection of projects funded by their allocations that are similar to the Priority Development Assistance Fund.
They have no more projects to inspect, Enojo said, so it is proper to recall and cancel the MR. (SR with reports from PNA/JG)
