Just answer questions, mayor chides governor

I am writing to clarify some facts regarding the article titled “Gov facing graft case blames black prop.” (Inquirer, 4/22/12)

1. A total of 30, not 23, of the beneficiaries were confirmed deceased in just seven of the 14 municipalities of the first district. This means that the number could be higher, or could double, if the Commission on Audit (COA) would release the documents I requested in a previous letter to auditor Susan V. Garcia.

2. The 30 death certificates that have been documented so far are from the towns of Maribojoc, Corella, Cortes, Baclayon, Dauis, Catigbian and Tubigon. The documents being requested are those in the towns of Alburquerque, Panglao, Sikatuna, Loon, Antequera, Balilihan and Calape.

3. It might be true that Gov. Edgar Chatto has not received any notice from the Ombudsman about the charges, but he cannot casually dismiss the complaint as black propaganda. Any case filed in the proper venue, in this case the Ombudsman, gives the object of the complaint, in this case Chatto, the opportunity to defend himself against the accusations leveled against him. It is different from the unfounded and malicious allegations routinely made against Chatto’s critics by people employed by the provincial government.

4. Chatto may be right in claiming that the audit of the project is still ongoing, but his actuations  in refusing to give categorical answers to specific questions prompted me to ask the Ombudsman’s help in investigating this project, for fear that it could end in a whitewash because Chatto has been less than forthright in his statements on the controversy.

5. If Chatto wants the issue to die down, all he needs to do is answer six questions:

a. How much is the cost of each livelihood kit?

b. How much is the total cost of the project?

c. Who are the people running the foundation that distributed the kits?

d. What was the basis for choosing this foundation for the distribution of the kits?

e. Who submitted the list of beneficiaries to the COA which is now being verified through the municipal mayors?

f. Finally, is it true that in the seven towns mentioned, 30 beneficiaries were already deceased when the distribution allegedly took place?

These are basic—and legitimate—questions that can be answered anytime, if he has nothing to hide and if the distribution was done properly as he maintains. Chatto’s failure—refusal is the better word—to answer these questions even after repeated promptings raises suspicions that he does not want to answer them publicly hence the request for investigation by the Ombudsman.

An innocent person would welcome this case because it will give him the venue to answer the questions and categorically deny the allegations against him. For him to simply claim that the filing of a case is “black propaganda” would not suffice. What we need are answers. Whatever he thinks of the case or me is irrelevant to the case and to the people.

—DAN NERI LIM,

mayor, Tagbilaran City