By Felipe V Celino
ROXAS CITY, Capiz — The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Capiz on Tuesday passed a resolution recommending the filing of charges before the Office of the Ombudsman against Capiz Governor Esteban Evan Contreras, Provincial Administrator Edwin Monares, and Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital (RMPH) chief Dr. Edmarie Tormon.
But a heated discussion among members of the provincial board occurred before the recommendations of the Committee on Appropriations chaired by Board Member Jonathan Besa were approved.
BM Eleuper Martinez argued that it was too early to approve the recommendation due to lack of evidence and it has no clear violations to pin down the governor, Monares, and Tormon.
Liga ng mga Barangay president and ex-officio member Querubin Pamplona suggested that the provincial board should wait for the outcome of the Commission on Audit’s (COA) investigation before filing the appropriate charges.
BMs Esteban Jose Contreras, brother of the governor, and Karen Palomar agreed with Pamplona.
But the majority were not convinced and pushed through with the filing of charges.
On the other hand, the provincial board junked the request for additional funds for the purchase of medicines and supplies of RMPH after the hospital management failed to submit the necessary documents being asked by the appropriations committee.
Aside from this, Monares has withdrawn the request through a letter to the provincial board saying they will look for funds through the office of the governor.
Meanwhile, the provincial board approved the resolution asking the COA to create a special team that will audit RMPH funds for medicines, supplies, and the petty cash funds this year.
The provincial board members who approved the filing of appropriate charges against the three officials were:
Jonathan Besa
Thea Faith Reyes
Mateo Hachuela
Elmer Arevalo
Weldie Apolinario Jr.
Mitchell John Patricio
Renzo Teves
Enrique Martin
Eleuper Martinez, Victor Tanco Jr., Querubin Pamplona, Karen Palomar, and Esteban Jose Contreras voted against the recommendation.
Contreras, Monares and Tormon have yet to comment on the issue.
