Bayan-Bohol assails Chatto in honor roll

TAGBILARAN CITY — Leftist Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Bohol chapter had assailed the inclusion of Governor Edgar Chatto to the Duterte’s honor roll of top governors for good governance, transparency, business competitive, disaster preparedness, including the relentless anti-illegal drugs drive.

Bayan Bohol leader John Ruiz, in his statement a copy of which was obtained by The Freeman, said they were “astonished and cannot believe that Bohol governor is one of the honorees.”

Aside from Chatto, those in the “honor list” are Governors Imee Marcos of Ilocos Norte; Faustino Dy III, Isabela; Junie Cua, Quirino; Eduardo Firmalo, Romblon; Alfredo Marañon Jr, Negros Occidental; Hilario Davide III, Cebu; Daisy Avance-Fuentes, South Cotabato; Ma. Angelica Rosedell Amante-Matba, Agusan Del Norte.

Just recently, the Provincial Peace and Order Council and the Provincial Board — chaired by Chatto and Vice Governor Dinisio Balite, respectively — approved separate resolutions congratulating Chatto for the achievement.

“Is it good governance when the people of Bohol are still impoverished?” Bayan Bohol lamented in its statement.

Bohol Poll 2016, an opinion survey conducted by Holy Name University’s Research Center, showed that 66 percent of the Bohol populace are still poor in self-rated poverty.

Bayan said Chatto’s administration appeared suppressing — by way of militarization — people’s organizations and non-government organizations that have been helping the poor allied with Bayan.

On transparency, Bayan said that it has been for a while demanding for Chatto’s dispensation to account the funds used in the Countryside Development Program-Purok Power Movement with the assistance of the military. It cited a report of Commission on Audit findings that purchases of carabaos were allegedly overpriced.

On disaster preparedness, Bayan asked how was the program for the earthquake and El Niño victims, and how prepared and systematic the provincial government was in its assistance to them.

Bayan said that of thousands of drug users and pusher who surrendered to President Duterte’s government, it could not see any program or campaign by the Chatto administration to address the proliferation of illegal drugs over the past year and the first quarter of this year.”

Under the PNP’s “Oplan Tokhang,” more than 31,000 drug users and pushers have surrendered; nine killed; and 172 arrested from July to the third week of August this year, police said during the recent PPOC meeting.

Some listeners on the radio further commented that Chatto’s family, including his wife Pureza, mayor of Balilihan town of Bohol and other relatives in government, is even considered a political dynasty.

There was no statement yet from the camp of  Chatto regarding these statements from Bayan and some sectors that have been bashing his inclusion into the honor roll. (FREEMAN)