VICTIMS of the fire that hit four barangays in Iloilo City on Sunday receive loaves of bread from businessman-philanthropist Rommel Ynion. Barangay Captain Irene Ong (foreground, right) and Reklamo Publiko panelist Art Calsas (foreground, left) take charge in giving out 560 loaves of bread.
Press club chief backs
FDC anti-graft drive
BY SAMMY JULIAN
Manila News Bureau Chief
ILOILO City – Iloilo Press Club (IPC) President Rommel Ynion lauded the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) – Iloilo Chapter for coming out with an open letter to President Benigno Aquino III and exposing corruption in the city government.
“It was a step in the right direction,” said Ynion.
The IPC chief himself had filed a number of graft charges before the Office of the Ombudsman against the current administration of Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.
These cases are still pending.
“FDC has taken steps to eradicate corruption in the local government of Iloilo,” said Ynion.
FDC is a nationwide, multi-sectoral, non-sectarian and pluralist coalition conducting advocacy work in the national, local and international arenas to realize a common framework and agenda for economic development.
It is one of the biggest and oldest non-government organizations in the Philippines.
“I encourage the Aquino administration to seriously consider the allegations presented by FDC in its open letter,” Ynion said.
He condemned what he called as the “political interference” particularly involving high-level suspects as this prevents justice from being achieved for past, present and future victims of corruption – which is the society in general.
Last week, the FDC – Iloilo Chapter urged President Aquino not to attend the inauguration of the new city hall of Iloilo City.
It expressed concern that the presence of the Chief Executive to the ceremony will be used by Mayor Mabilog to “deodorize and legitimize” the yet unresolved controversy surrounding the project.
The coalition instead appealed for President Aquino’s “positive action” by initiating a thorough investigation of the project.
“Together with you, we will initiate efforts to put things in their proper order and to hold our officials accountable,” the coalition wrote the President.
The Palace has yet to issue a reaction to the open letter published in last week’s Thursday issue of a nationally circulated broadsheet./PN
Philippine Peso Exchange Rate
