From drivers to cops, fire victims: CH realigns rice subsidy

CEBU, Philippines — There will be no more rice provision for the remaining habal-habal drivers who have yet to receive the subsidy from the city government.

This, after Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella said he will give to fire victims and policemen the remaining 291 sacks of rice that are yet to be distributed.

The move, however, is questioned by two opposition councilors.

Councilors Nestor Archival and Lea Japson said this can be tantamount to illegal use of public funds as the rice the city bought is intended for motorcycle-for-hire drivers.

Archival clarified they are not objecting to giving rice to fire survivors and cops, per se, but only to the decision to give the rice to recipients it was not intended for.

“I’m not objecting. The idea here is that if these sacks of rice intended for a project for a certain appropriation, if we are going to give it to another project which is not supposed to be in that certain activity, we might have a technical malversation,” Archival said.

They said the City Legal Office should render an opinion on the matter.

For the past two sessions, the City Council received a letter from Atty. June Maratas, head of the Department of General Services, who was ordered to release to the Department of Social Welfare and Services 50 sacks of rice for fire survivors and 200 sacks of rice for cops at the Cebu City Police Office.

Article 220 of the Revised Penal Code states that “any public officer who shall apply any public fund or property under his administration to any public use other than that for which such fund or property were appropriated by law or ordinance shall suffer the penalty of prision correccional in its minimum period or a fine ranging from one-half to the total of the sum misapplied, if by reason of such misapplication, any damage or embarrassment shall have resulted to the public service. In either case, the offender shall also suffer the penalty of temporary special disqualification.”

Maratas, in his letter, said there are 291 sacks of rice, which remains undistributed, that are stored at a warehouse at the South Road Properties.

“Based on the information that we have gathered, these sacks of rice are part of the 6,000 and 1,500 sacks of rice which were purchased by the Peace and Order Program, intended to be distributed to ANGKAS drivers,” he said.

Maratas said the rice should be disposed of immediately considering the consumable nature of the items.

Allies of Labella in the City Council agreed to Archival and Japson’s request to refer the matter to the City Legal Office for comments and recommendations.

Councilor Eduardo Rama, Jr. said, however, that fire victims and policemen may be covered by the Peace and Order Program.

“It is under the peace and order. I think it encompasses fire victims and policemen,” he said.

Councilor Phillip Zafra agrees.

Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia, for his part, said there is no problem referring the matter to the City Legal Office so that members of the City Council will be guided. (FREEMAN)