Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco, Jr. refused to receive an award saying government officials and employees should not accept rewards. LEO UDTOHAN/INQUIRER VISAYAS
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol – It’s uncommon for recipients to turn down prestigious rewards, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen.
But Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco, Jr., had refused honors that come his way. He says government officials and employees should not accept rewards.
“I had to decline the award because I am paid by taxes to serve the people. I am just doing my job,” Evasco told reporters.
Evasco, a former Maribojoc town mayor, explained that as public servant, he took an oath to serve the people and is paid for his job from the taxes of the Filipino people, especially from the poor Filipino people of our country. Thus, he says he could not accept the award as he deemed his job as sacred.
His refusal to receive a service award last July 22, after he was named one of the Outstanding Boholanos Around the World (Tobaw) sparked controversies.
He said he thanked and respected the screening committee, which selected him and also those who nominated him for the award.
He added that his refusal should not be viewed as an insult to other awardees and those who have been awarded in the past and would be awarded in the future, who deserve it more than him. He said that in his job, there is more cause at stake than recognition.
Evasco was one of the 10 Boholanos being selected by the committee to receive the award aimed to recognize the Tobaw.
Tobaw is a triennial event to honor Boholanos, by blood or heart, who have distinguished themselves at the forefront of their chosen field of endeavor and significantly contributed to the well-being of the Boholano community and the nation through philanthropic efforts and/or volunteerism, the award giving body website said.
The Tobaw was organized by the Tigum Bol-anon sa Tibuok Kalibutan (TBTK) and the First Consolidated Bank in cooperation with the provincial government of Bohol, Diocese of Tagbilaran, The Bohol Chronicle and DYRD and the Bohol Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
Other awardees were RnB king singer Michael Luke Mejares in the field of performing arts, 1st District Rep. Rene Relampagos in the field for public service (local level), Ed Escalona (Business and Entrepreneurship), Francisca Baluyot (Community Advocacy-Medicine), Rev. Fr. Florante Camacho, SVD (Education), Engr. Valentino Pueblos (Engineering), Teresa Salazar (Literature), RADM Margarito Sanchez, Jr. (Military/Protective Service) and Dr. Rene Rollon (Science).
Character assassination
But Evasco said he was the target of character assassination after he declined the award.
Others said that his declining the Tobaw award was to put Relampagos in a very awkward position.
He said he had no intention to run for Bohol governor.
He instead endorsed Vice-Governor Dionisio Balite and 2nd District Bohol Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado for governor.
But when reporters asked him if PresidentDuterte would ask him to run, he simply answered, “let’s cross the bridge when we get there.”
He said there would be a midterm elections in May 2019.
“There will be midterm elections. It should push through so that some hidden money from politicians will come out,” he said.
Earlier, Evasco hit Relampagos, Gov. Edgar Chatto and Rep. Arthur Yap, whom the cabinet official most particularly assailed as “opportunists.” ‘
During capitol’s weekly media forum last week, Provincial Administrator Alfonso Damalerio II asked Evasco to slow down and address directly the needs of the people.
Relampagos told reporters that Evasco didn’t speak well of someone of his national stature and as a former priest.
Evasco is touted to clash with Yap for next governor in the 2019 elections.