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