Mayor Guico denies refusing to accept capitol’s rice donation
BINALONAN Mayor Ramon Guico Jr. vehemently denied reports that he refused to accept a rice donation from the provincial government for his constituents affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Guico showed local newsmen a document of acceptance made by his municipality on April 1 for the first wave of donation from the provincial government composed of 200 sacks of rice for his town.
“I have proof here issued by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office signed by Emil Samson Jr,” Guico said.
Last week, Guico was criticized in local media for reportedly refusing to accept another round of rice of donation from the provincial government.
Guico pointed out that he was told that the second delivery of 20 cavans of rice for each barangay was not intended for the municipality and only the barangays can receive the the allocations, not the mayor’s office.
Under the conditions, Guico said he felt insulted that he would not be authorized to receive and distribute the rice aid so he told the representative from the governor’s office to deliver the allocations directly to the barangays.
Instead, the stocks were brought back directly to Lingayen with the impression that the mayor rejected the rice aid.
Worse, he said, when he approved the security for the cargo truck ostensibly to deliver the rice stock to all the barangays, the stock was unloaded at a resort in Barangay Linmansangan and endorsed the delivery to Guico’s nephew whom he defeated in last election to coordinate the distribution to the barangay captains.
Only the barangay captain of Sta. Catalina was reportedly called only while minor officials of 23 barangays were contacted.
“This is supposed to be apolitical but what are they doing? Why did they call my political opponents instead?” he said.
He said he kept his silence for several days but he decided to break his silence because of the fake news being spread about him only because one barangay out of 24 accepted the donation. (PhilStar Wire Service/ECV)
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