BINALONAN–Not us.

Reacting to news reports on the controversial meeting of Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) at the Malacañang Palace, Mayor Ramon Guico Jr., the interim president of ULAP, has flatly denied allegations that his group is the source of the “cash gifts” distributed to governors and mayors in Malacañang last October 11.

In a phone interview with The PUNCH, Guico also denied that members of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines which he heads received any amount.

ULAP and the Pangasinan Mayors League (PML) had their oath-taking with the President on the day in question.

The PML was the only provincial chapter of LMP present that day in the Palace.

Guico said ULAP find the allegation both funny and offensive.

“Wala namang pera ang ULAP (ULAP has no money),” said Guico, a cousin of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“Medyo nasasaktan din kami kasi napagbibintangan na maytinanggap kami eh wala naman talaga (We are also hurt because we are accused of receiving something when in fact there’s none),” he added referring to LMP and PML.

Two members of ULAP, namely Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio and Bulacan Gov. Jon Mendoza, however, have since admitted receiving P500,000 cash each.

Guico said he and his groups were just at the Heroes’ Hall then and they immediately left after the oath-taking as a Cabinet meeting was scheduled right after.

“That’s it. No more, no less. Nothing else happened,” Guico said.

Guico’s statements were corroborated by Sta. Barbara Mayor Reynaldo Velasco, executive vice president of PML, and Mayors Simplicio Rosario of Binmaley town and Ernesto Castañeda Jr. of Lingayen, all of whom were also present in Malacañang on Oct. 11.

“But if they will give me, I will accept it because I can use that for my constituents’ needs without any strings attached,” Rosario said.

Castañeda, meanwhile, said his barangay officials never asked him anything about the report because he has been very transparent with them.

“If I receive something, I tell them. If there is none, I also tell them,” he said.

FVR CHALLENGE

Meanwhile, former President Fidel Ramos has challenged officials who admitted having received cash gift from Malacanang ranging from P200,000 to P500,000 each to say their admission under oath.

“That is very bad, if it happened at all,” said Ramos, who was in Lingayen Monday to attend the first 100 days report of Gov. Amado Espino Jr.

“Those saying it must say under oath and majority of them should say it,” said the former president who hails from Pangasinan.

Pangasinan Third District Rep. Rachel Arenas, who was also present during the occasion, said in a separate interview that she doesn’t know of any bribery that happened among congressmen.

She said they were called for a breakfast meeting with the President to discuss their concerns. #

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