Palawan governor Jose Alvarez on Wednesday weighed in on the administrative case filed by the Sangguniang Bayan of Narra against its mayor Gerandy Danao, stating the latter may have committed irregularities as charged against him by his own municipal council.
“The Sanggunian (Bayan) was created in order to guide or approve the acts of the mayor, especially using government money. Wala kang Sangguniang Bayan tapos gumamit ka ng pera, kulong ka,” Gov. Alvarez said, commenting on the case against Danao.
The Narra council, led by Vice Mayor Crispin Lumba Jr., earlier lodged a complaint against Danao for grave misconduct in relation to a permit he alleged issued for a cockpit, gross negligance for allegedly failing to submit a 2020 budget plan on time and alleged mismanagement of COVID-19 funds and the town’s water system project.
“Personal opinion ko ‘yan – serve your constituents but do it right. Nakaligtaan mo sundin ang batas,” Alvarez added.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan is yet to act on the complaint, and may either dismiss it or place Danao under “preventive suspension”.
Speaking at the capitol’s online program “Pakimanan ta si Gob” Wednesday, Gov. Alvarez also criticized Danao’s leadership and blamed him for “alienating” other local officials.
“Sa kapitolyo gusto namin siyang tulungan. Mag-iisang taon na siya ngayong July 30 pero kung titingnan mo ang landscape, ang dati niyang mga kasama ay nawawala na sa kanya,” he said.
Reacting to Danao’s apparent popularity among netizens, Alvarez also criticized Danao for using social social media to prop his image.
“Hindi naman siya na-elect para maghalukay ng galunggong. Hindi siya na-elect para mag-distribute ng ginamos (bagoong), puwede naman niya iutos yan. Ang mali niya ay pini-Facebook kasi niya,” Alvarez said.
“Kung ang opinion niya ay tama ang ginagawa niya, ay ipagpatuloy niya lang dahil yon lang [ang] alam niya. Tanungin mo siya kung anong nangyayari, hindi niya alam,” Alvarez said.
He dismissed content that have been shared on social media portraying Danao as one of the country’s top mayors during the COVID emergency.
“Number three mayor pa siya sa buong bansa at napahiya siya kasi hindi naman totoo. In other words, huwag ka gumawa. Kung ako gusto ko maging outstanding governor nakita mo ba ako doon ako at tumanggap ng award? Never. Ayaw ko, gusto ko trabaho lang ng trabaho, I work for the good of the province, the welfare of the Palaweno,” he added.
Danao reacts
Reacting to Alvarez’ statements, Danao told Palawan News that he will choose to ignore the opinions that were said as he has “no problem” with the governor”.
He said if Alvarez has an ax to grind against him, he will ignore it and just continue to work in Narra.
“Hayaan na lang natin sila. Tayo naman walang problema kay governor. Kung may problema sila sa akin bahala na lang sila, basta ako maayos lang ako. Ganito lang ako, mahirap lang naman akong klase ng tao, bakit nila ako pag-iinitan? Kung may galit man sila sa akin, bahala na lang sila. Okay lang ako hindi ko na rin iniisip kung ano sasabihin nila basta ako nagtatrabaho lang. Ganito ako, ganito ang pagkatao ko, kaya pasensiya na lang sila kung ano ang nagawa ko,” he said.
Danao said he had already consulted with his lawyers to answer all concerns regarding his cases.
“May abogado ako, yong abogado ko na lang ang bahalang sumagot doon,” he added.
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