The Vice Governor’s Office is now working to settle the unpaid bills amounting to P865,000 of the late vice governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr.
Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale said they are now preparing the checks to pay for the bills incurred during the oath-taking ceremony of her predecessor and in the study of his transaxial highway project.
“It was not settled immediately because the Commission on Audit has certain requirements. It does not even a purchase request. So we are working backwards now,” she said.
The unsettled accounts that amounted to P865,000 include the purchase of flowers for Sanchez’s oath-taking ceremony at the Mariner’s Court, catering services for the visitors and giveaways for the barangay captains.
The amount also includes the bill for the equipment used for the feasibility study of his transaxial project.
Sanchez’s daughter Grecylda recently received the billing of these accounts.
“Si Gigi sad, I can understand how she feels nga gi-portray nga utangan ang iyang daddy. No, that was charge to the office,” she said.
Magpale said some of the equipment used in the transaxial feasibility study are now with the Provincial General Services Office and the Provincial Planning and Development Office for their use.
Marina Abear, head of operations of the Vice Governor’s Office, said there were already releases made and some checks are now ready for pick up by the suppliers.
After dealing with the unsettled accounts of her predecessor, Vice Gov. Magpale also hopes that Commission on Elections (Comelec) will resolve its unsettled election protests.
Magpale is referring to the election protests against Mayor-elect Joel Quiño, Vice Mayor Antonietta Dangoy and all councilors of Compostela town; the recall petition of her cousin, Danao City Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III against his brother, Danao City Mayor Ramon “Boy” Durano Jr., and the pending election protest of businessman Glenn Soco against the late vice governor Sanchez.
Magpale met with some subdivision residents yesterday morning in her office about some concerns on the issuance of permits for infrastructures in Compostela.
“These things ba, they don’t realize the importance of having a mayor in a town,” she said.
To remedy this, she said she instructed Provincial Engineer Eulogio Pelayre to check on the matter and see what he can do about it.
Comelec Provincial Supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano assured that the election protests of Compostela and Danao will have some progress within the month.
On Monday, the recanvassing for Compostela will be held in Manila with a new set of board of canvassers.
However, Soco’s election protest will have to wait longer.
“Hinaot unta nga idungan na na nila. Mao sab na ang gihuwat sa family ni vice gov (Sanchez),” she told reporters. Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus