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What now, Lito Lapid? (2)
Source: Inquirer
Author: Tonette Orejas
Date: 2000-03-28
 
Malacaņang hand



None in his appeals to the court identified President Estrada as

behind the quarry case. The recent decision of the Court of

Appeals, however, showed signs of Malacaņang's pressure, his

supporters said.



Lapid focused his verbal tirades against Roy David, once his

top adviser and whom he appointed as chair of the province's

quarry task force, blaming him for all his woes.



He also blamed David for the unaccounted P8.2-million income

from quarry taxes from 1997 to the first half of 1998.



When told of command responsibility pertaining to the three

irregularities cited by the COA, Lapid said: ''I am aware of

command responsibility but I entrusted the task force to him

(David). I cannot monitor all of my men's activities.''



''His (Lapid's) vulnerability is that he is (a) very trusting

(person),'' Fidel Arcenas, one of the governor's technical

advisers, said.



David was never named a respondent in the quarry case, one

which baffled Victorina Gomez, chair of the Kapisanan ng

Mamamayan para sa Katarungan.



Sought by the INQUIRER in his three-hectare farm in Porac

town last Saturday, David begged not to be interviewed.



''Thank you for the many chances you are giving me to air my

side, but if I talk, I fear I would further damage the governor,'' he

said.



He also asked that his wife, Senior Board Member Edna David,

now the acting governor, be spared from the controversy.



Lapid said it was like Roy David himself has gotten back to the

capitol by being the shadow governor behind Edna.



The issue of whether it was proper for the DILG to serve the

suspension order is now with the Supreme Court.



Lapid, believing that he is scoring more points for being an

underdog, vowed to vindicate his name in the 2001 local

elections.



In a statement not bereft of cinematic effect, he said: ''I will clear

my name. I will restore my family's dignity.''
 

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