BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — A member of the Negros Occidental Provincial Board has slammed TV 5 whose program ranked him as the top “epal” politician in the country.
Fifth district PB Member Emilio “Dino” Yulo III was ranked No. 1 in the “Epalitiko” list of TV5’s recent “T3” program of the Tulfo brothers—Ben, Erwin, and Raffy.
Yulo lashed back at the Tulfo brothers saying they should check their information before broadcasting it, in order to maintain their credibility.
Yulo ran for congressman in a special election last June to replace the late Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo but lost to his own uncle, Rep. Alejandro Mirasol, who was backed by President Benigno Aquino’s Liberal Party. Yulo and Mirasol will face each other again for the post in the May 2013 elections.
In the TV 5’s report, Yulo was reported to have been distributing refillable hand sanitizer dispensers with his name and face plastered on the label. Written on the packaging were the words, “Dino Yulo, the best sa serbisyo (in service).”
Yulo shared this “epal” top spot with Malabon City Rep. Ricky Sandoval, whose photo was put on a pack of mixed nuts.
But in an interview with Interaksyon.com, Yulo said the hand sanitizer dispensers did not cost the government anything. “I had those refillable silicon containers made in China and distributed them to barangay health workers so they can use it; I spent my own money,” he said.
He also denied that the hand sanitizer dispensers were for political purposes, saying that he already started it two years ago, and “it was not in aid of election or reelection.”
The term “epal” is a Filipino word for credit grabber, as it refers to politicians who claimed that government projects were materialized through their efforts and funds.
The Anti-Epal Bill, still pending in Congress, prohibits the “practice of affixing name, initials, logo, or image of a public official to a signage announcing a proposed, ongoing or completed public works projects, as well as installing signage announcing the maintenance, rehabilitation, construction of public works crediting individual public officer, bearing his or her image.” (FREEMAN)