Soco defends PB decision

CEBU, Philippines — Flashing a smile and a peace sign, Cebu Vice Governor Glenn Anthony Soco defended the Provincial Board’s decision to review a proposed tax compromise with Apo Land and Quarry Corporation (ALQC), saying the move is part of their mandate despite being branded a “hypocrite” by Governor Pamela Baricuatro.

Soco said he was shocked by the governor’s remark but stressed that the issue should not be framed as a personal conflict between the executive and legislative branches of the provincial government.

“I was shocked to hear that comment. It was heavy because it came from our chief executive,” Soco told reporters. “Wa ko kahinumdom sa akong kinabuhi nga gitawag ko’g hypocrite,” he added.

The vice governor maintained that questioning the proposed compromise settlement does not constitute hypocrisy, but rather an exercise of the Provincial Board’s duty to protect public interest.

Peace, not war

Despite the tension between the two officials, Soco said he has no intention of escalating the dispute. “This is not about war. This is about protecting the interests of the Cebuano people,” he said.

The vice governor made the statement after Baricuatro earlier said, “If he is preparing for war, I am prepared for war — Glenn Soco!”

Soco dismissed the characterization of the issue as a conflict, emphasizing that disagreements are normal in governance. “Disagreements are normal in a democratic process,” he said, but insists that the Provincial Board will continue with the governor despite the controversy.

P211-M: The elephant in the room

The tension stems from a proposed compromise settlement between the provincial government and ALQC amounting to P211.56 million.

The amount is significantly lower than the P1.218 billion tax assessment originally issued by the province against the quarry firm, prompting Soco to remark that the Board was surprised when the proposal was endorsed to it for approval.

Records show the proposal was transmitted to the Board on January 26, 2026, and was referred to the committees on laws and ordinances and ways and means, resulting in a joint committee hearing scheduled later to review the proposal.

Soco stressed that the Board has not rejected the settlement but is simply exercising its authority to examine the proposal thoroughly. “I-review ‘sa ‘ni nato to protect the interests of the Cebuanos,” he said.

He emphasized that the funds involved belong to the public and must therefore be scrutinized carefully. “Di’ baya ‘ni atong kwarta. Sa katawhan baya ‘ni,” Soco said.

The vice governor also pointed out that the Provincial Board acts as a collegial body, because he cannot decide single-handedly on matters before the Board.

“I’m only one of the 20 members of the Sanggunian Panlalawigan. I’m just the presiding officer,” Soco said, expounding that, under the rules, the vice governor can only cast his vote in case of a tie.

Pam's hypocrisy tag

Baricuatro had earlier tagged Soco of hypocrisy, citing a previous resolution he authored when he was still a Board member.

The resolution authorized former governor Gwendolyn Garcia to negotiate a compromise settlement with Dolomite Mining Corporation.

Soco, however, said the two cases are fundamentally different. He clarified that the earlier resolution merely authorized the governor to negotiate and enter into a compromise agreement if necessary.

In contrast, the ALQC proposal already contains a fixed settlement amount. “In the case of ALQC, the endorsement already states the amount of P211 million. We don’t even know how they arrived at that amount,” he said.

Soco further explained that the Dolomite case involved different circumstances. His legal counsel, Georgia Herrera, said the Dolomite compromise was based partly on an admission by the Provincial Treasurer that there was a miscalculation in the tax assessment.

As a result, the actual amount compromised was relatively small, but the adjustment involved was only around P5 million, Herrera said, thust the basis of Dolomite compromise was different.

Soco also reiterated that the Provincial Board was not involved in the discussions leading to the proposed settlement. It only received the proposal after the amount had already been determined. “Mas maayo unta if we were privy to the negotiations,” he said.

Soco noted that, in previous cases, the Board usually authorized the governor first before negotiations began. He further said the issue also raises broader concerns about the province’s fiscal policy.

He noted that Cebu’s current budget stands at P11.9 billion, much lower than the P25 billion budget enacted in 2025. The province’s actual revenue collections, he added, were only around P8.9 billion.

Given these figures, Soco said the government must carefully evaluate whether granting large tax compromises is justified. “We should define our fiscal policy,” he said.

Baricuatro earlier clarified that the proposal did not originate from her office. She said the settlement was initiated by lawyers representing ALQC.

She said the proposal was first reviewed by the Provincial Legal Office before being presented to her. After examining the legal basis, she said the proposal was forwarded to the Provincial Board for deliberation.

“It is not me who will approve this. The Provincial Board has the last and final say,” Baricuatro said.

Soco defends press briefing

Soco, however, said the press conference was held to address questions raised by the media.

He pointed out that the executive branch itself had earlier stated that the proposal was subject to review by the Provincial Board. “They said the ball is in our court,” Soco said.

For that reason, the Board decided to face the media collectively and clarify its position.

Despite the heated exchanges, Soco assured the public that the Provincial Board will continue its review of the proposal, and will examine the settlement based on its merits. He said the issue should not be reduced to personal differences. “This is not about personalities,” said the vice governor.

He also vowed to continue working with the governor for the benefit of the province. “For my part, I will continue to work with the governor and the Cebu Provincial Government for whatever is best for the people of Cebu,” he said.

As the press conference ended, Soco flashed a peace sign and repeated his message: “No war — peace.” -  RAE BANAT NEWS