Mayors trade barbs

AFTER being accused of immorality including drug activities, it was Medellin Mayor Ricardo Ramirez’s turn to level his own accusation against former ally turned foe re-electionist Bogo City Mayor Celestino Martinez Jr..

“I accuse him of being so corrupt that he bloated the rental of the sound system used during President Aquino’s vist to Bogo City,” he said.

Ramirez said Medellin paid P38,000 for the Powerlink sound system on a nightly basis during their fiesta.

But he said Bogo City paid P150,000 to use the system for a few hours and without any lights since the President visited during daytime.

Earlier, Martinez accused Ramirez of allegedly using illegal drugs and engaging in immorality.

The mayor’s wife, former congresswoman Clavel Asas-Martinez, and their son, former Bogo town mayor Celestino “Tining” Martinez III, face graft charges for allegedly depositing millions of pesos in government funds to their bank accounts.

The Martinezes have asked the Sandiganbayan to defer the issuance of warrants of arrest against them.

Ramirez is seeking re-election against Martinez’s son-in-law, Robbie Herrera. Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus