Aquino aide accuses Cotabato mayor of lying

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang on Thursday said Cotabato City Mayor Japal Guiani was lying when he said on national television that the national government had not sent any assistance to the city in the wake of heavy flooding and a serious invasion of the area by water hyacinths.

“At a time that calls for solidarity to effectively assist our countrymen in Mindanao, it is unfortunate that some officials choose to politicize relief efforts,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a statement.

“When Cotobato City Mayor Guiani goes before national media to tell lies, your government is obligated to tell the truth. There is no basis to Mayor Guiani’s prevarication that the National Government has not sent relief or aid to Cotobato City, going as far as accusing the President of not bringing relief goods,” he added.

Lacierda said the national government had already spent P12 million for the relief operations. He said P7 million of the amount came from the DSWD, while the national government provided P3.45 million. Non-government organizations gave P350,000.

Lacierda said the the DSWD has distributed P7,799,260 worth of food and non-food items to affected families in Cotabato City.

“This administration has a coordinated system for the sending of relief and assistance, including prepositioning equipment and materials so that they can be dispatched efficiently and promptly as soon as conditions permit,” Lacierda said.

Guiani made the controversial remarks on the very day President Aquino went to the city to inspect the flood damage, the conduct of the relief efforts and the hyacinth issue in the Rio Grande De Mindanao.

“The Mayor of Cotobato City has done his constituents a disservice. Instead of attending to their needs, he chose to tell lies and pass the buck,” Lacierda said.

“We commend the departments and agencies who are working with responsible local officials and the people of Cotobato City to help our people instead of engaging in negativity and outright fabrications,” he added.