Palusot revisited

Former Capitol treasurer Emme Gingoyon’s insistence to keep the Kia service vehicle calls to mind the word “palusot” or “alibi” that was used by Ilocos Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas in describing former chief justice Renato Corona’s attempts to justify his millions during last year’s impeachment trial.

Gingoyon’s former boss and co-accused in the Balili property purchase graft case, former governor now Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia of Cebu’s 3rd district has moved out. Gingoyon himself has been out of office for six months.

Yet he uses as his “palusot” the fact that his appeal remains pending in the Sandiganbayan, never mind that he was already dismissed from service by the Ombudsman for grave misconduct.

We wonder how Gingoyon manages to pay for the fuel and other maintenance expenses of the service vehicle with his retirement benefits compromised.

Gingoyon also warned Provincial General Services Office (PGSO) chief Eva Encabo that she may be slapped with contempt of court for claiming back the vehicle since his appeal is still with the Sandiganbayan.

How did he arrive at his strange reasoning?

Even if he’s cleared of the graft charges against him, the odds in his favor are nill that he would be rehired Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III, who ran an election campaign questioning the Balili estate purchase as a crime against the people?

Lest Gingoyon forget, the service vehicle is Captiol property, not a gift from his former benefactor.

That’s not the only “palusot” we encountered this week. The management of the infamous Kuerks bar is insisting that their old place is now called “Knock Box,” bought by a neighboring nightspot and thus exempted from the closure order issued by the Cebu City government.

If that were the case, where are their papers as the City Treasurer’s Office required them in years past when the place was still known as Bakak (Lie) Restobar? And what about the more than half a million pesos in unpaid taxes that they and their buyers owe to the city? Quits na sab na?

And we’re not even talking about the presence of a barangay kagawad who works in the bar or the teenager who landed in the hospital after being allegedly hit with a rock by Councilor Gerardo Carillo.

For Gingoyon, it’s time to return the service vehicle to the Capitol lest he face a new batch of charges against him.

For the management of Kuerks or Knock Box restobar, show up, prove your ownership and pay your taxes.

Enough of your pathetic excuses.