The camp of former Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday slammed the “Truth Commission” of Mayor Albee Benitez for being untruthful by deliberately making erroneous claims and releasing half-truths on a piece meal basis during their regular press briefings that are meant to confuse Bacolodnons and project a bad image for the previous government.
“Going into his third week in office, Mayor Benitez’s strategy is getting clearer: Use propaganda through media reports by maligning the former mayor, while they promote themselves as champions of good governance. We expect that their strategy is for the long haul. We expect more fireworks and we will not take this sitting down,” said Leonardia’s spokesman Dr. Chris Sorongon in reaction to yesterday’s press conference with lawyer Lyzander Dilag, spokesperson of Benitez.
Dilag, in his latest attack against Leonardia, told reporters the new city administration does not have an original copy of the Bacolod LGU’s tripartite agreement with vaccine manufacturer, AstraZeneca.
“Please, speak only the truth. Do not spread falsehoods, fake news,” replied Sorongon as he laughed off Dilag’s claims.
Sorongon was quick to clarify that copies of the document that Dilag is claiming to be missing can be secured from the Sangguniang Panlungsod which approved the tripartite contract entered into by and between the LGU, the AZ and the deal initiator which is the national government represented by the Department of the Health headed by Sec. Francisco Duque or the National IATF under Sec. Carlito Galvez.
If he is enterprising or diligent enough, and if he knows how LGUs operate, it is easy to find documents, he said.
A copy of the same contract may also be secured from the city’s Bids and Awards Committee, he added.
It is common sense in local governance where to find such documents. That if he fully understands his work or if he performs accordingly as expected, Sorongon pointed out.
If he is not satisfied, Sorongon continued, Dilag or his superiors can even write AZ for a copy.
They may also secure copies from the DOH, or from the NIATF, since the policies on tripartite deals covering vaccine procurement at that time as well as supply distribution process, emanated from there, he said.
He is a lawyer. He knows that. Why pick on Mayor Bing alone? He was only one of the signatories to that contract, he stressed.
“Dilag should go the extra mile to get more pogi points for his mayor by probing the vaccine deal deeper. Include AstraZeneca, the DOH and the NIATF. He can also launch an expanded probe by investigating other local governments throughout the country that inked similar agreements facilitated by the national government. After all, we are talking of a tripartite contract here,” Sorongon added.
Securing a contract with the AZ at that time was an urgent need to make sure that Bacolod population will be protected as there were no guarantees of steady supply because only three drug firms worldwide were manufacturing vaccines against COVID-19, Sorongon said.
It must be recalled that Bacolod, as among the first LGUs to ink a contract with AZ, was the envy of other local governments.
None other than Gov. Presbitero Jose Velasco, of the Province of Marinduque, the father of House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, and president of the League of Provinces, and Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, sought out Leonardia’s help in also securing a tripartite contract with AZ, Sorongon said.*
