Palace won’t side with ally in case vs Quezon gov

LUCENA CITY—The Office of the President dismissed anew the complaint filed by President Benigno Aquino’s political ally in Quezon against the son of the opposition leader in the House of Representatives.

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. found no merit in the claim of irregularity by Vice Gov. Vicente Alcala against Gov. David Suarez and 10 board members when they passed a resolution in August last year authorizing the governor to sign several agreements with different government agencies to implement P1.5 billion in projects.

The vice governor, elder brother of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, said he was bypassed when the governor and board members acted on the resolution.

Ochoa’s decision was dated Feb. 9 but a copy of it was received by the governor’s office on Friday.

It said Alcala “failed to show any legal basis for his inclusion as cosignatory, representing the Sanggunian (provincial board).”

Vice Governor Alcala is a member of Mr. Aquino’s Liberal Party, which is now the dominant political party in the House. Governor Suarez is the youngest son of Rep. Danilo Suarez, minority leader in the House and close ally of detained former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Ochoa’s decision said Alcala was unable to support his claim of irregularity by Suarez and the board members. “The error of the complainant lies in his misunderstanding of the requirement of the law and provisions of the Local Government Code,” said the order.

In his motion for reconsideration filed on Dec. 5, Alcala claimed that it was mandatory for the vice governor to be a cosignatory to any agreement that would be signed by the governor.

The vice governor had questioned Malacañang’s decision on Nov. 28 that dismissed for lack of evidence his complaint against Suarez and the 10 provincial board members.