Navotas: ‘Yolanda’ aid given to Eastern Samar mayor before she got sued

NAVOTAS CITY, Philippines–The Navotas City government continues to pour in aid for the victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda,” this time with a P2-million financial assistance for two coastal municipalities in Eastern Samar.

The amount was handed over personally by Navotas Mayor John Rey Tiangco to Lawaan Mayor Candida Gabornes and Giporlos Mayor Mark Biong on March 17, City Hall said in a statement Saturday.

The local government made the disclosure also to clarify that the money was given two days before the Office of the Ombudsman dismissed Gabornes from public service and ordered the filing of criminal charges against her and two others, after they allegedly used public funds to reimburse the repairs and maintenance expenses for her personal vehicle.

The extension of the P2-million assistance to the two municipalities was part of the  Adopt-a-City program of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

According to the statement, Gabornes thanked Tiangco for being the first local government to directly help her town and for visiting Lawaan after the calamity. Kristine Felisse Mangunay