Gov’t vehicles ferry rallyists

Several government vehicles were used to fetch supporters of suspended Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia from Cebu towns in yesterday’s prayer rally at the Capitol, including brand new tourist buses bought for the Suroy Suroy tourism caravan.

Among the vehicles photographed by radio station dyLA were vehicles from Liloan, Oslob, Dalaguete, Tabuelan and Moalboal towns.

One Ford truck had a red lettered plate SJC 540.

Officials of these towns and barangays could face charges, said Asst. Regional Director Elias Fernandez of the Department of Interior and Local Government.

“They can be charged administratively under our civil service policies that no equipment or properties of government can be used for other purposes other than official”, Fernandez said.

Dalaguete Councilor John Moran said they used the municipal government’s coaster to ferry 30 barangay captains and town officials with the permission of Mayor Ronald Alan Cesante.

Other supporters from Naga and Sibonga towns arrived on a Suroy-Suroy tourist bus.

About 10 persons from each of the 35 barangays in Dumanjug town attended the rally. Dumanjug town Mayor Nelson Garcia is the governor’s younger brother.

Fernandez said aggrieved parties can file a complaint with the Provincial Board (PB) if the official involved is a municipal official. He said photos of the vehicles can be used as evidence.

The DILG-7 official said it is unacceptable for mayors or any official to say they are entitled to use the vehicles because they are owned by the towns they lead. /Correspondents Jhunnex Napallacan and Renan Alanginan