Capitol withholds release of aid from Magpale’s pork fund

The first sign of a falling out between the two top Capitol officials has emerged in the release of checks for financial aid.

Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale said she found it “unusual” that a check for P20,000 aid to a barangay captain in Ronda town from her pork barrel was refused for encashment by the Provincial Treasurer’s Office.

A dismayed barangay captain of Canduling, Remedios Maribago, was advised by the cash division to wait instead for the check to be turned over to her by Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.

The P20,000 financial aid for socio-cultural activities was charged to Magpale’s Legislative Assistance Fund (LAF).

The barangay captain instead returned the check to Magpale’s office yesterday.

“This has never happened before,” said the vice governor about the withholding of release of funds.

Asked if this had something to do with the new alliance of her party Barug Alang sa Kalambuan ug Demokrasya (Bakud) and the Liberal Party (LP), Magpale said “maybe, because it never happened before”.

“The check was already signed but withheld because the governor will be the one to release it. But it is funded by my LAF,” Magapale told Cebu Daily News.

Provincial Treasurer Roy Salubre declined to comment when sought for an explanation.

Last month a total of P29.5 million in financial assistance was distributed to different towns and municipalities.

The fund came from the office of the governor, Magpale and different offices of the Provincial Board (PB) members through their individual LAF.

Governor Garcia announced that she would make distribution of financial assistance a monthly event.

Garcia earlier said she wanted to stop the habit of just forwarding some of the checks to the treasurer’s office and later be claimed by the treasurer of the beneficiary town, city or barangay.

The aid is supposed to be used for projects like birthing centers, infrastructure renovations, town festivals and socio-cultural activities.