LIM, DE LA SERNA |
|
A
word war between City Mayor Dan Lim and former OIC Gov.
Victor de la Serna erupted yesterday when the former reacted
sharply on the request for the "summary of budget
and expenditures" of the city government. |
The
city mayor challenged de la Serna to substantiate and then
file legal charges if he (de la Serna) can unearth anomalies
at the city hall after he requested City Budget Officer Rose
Palma to furnish him the summary statement of expenditures
of the Lim administration.
De
la Serna who is close personal friend of the mayor went to
the city hall last Wednesday to request for the summary. However,
he was refused by Palma who insisted that he formalize his
request in writing. De la Serna, infront of the budget officer,
made a hand written letter, but, was still denied the document,
saying that she cannot just release such document "without
the clearance of the city mayor."
De la serna went home empty handed while telling Ms. Palma
that "the public is your master, and not Mayor Lim."
The
mayor said dela Serna's saying that he will "audit city
hall" is an insinuation that there is malversation of
funds happening at the city hall.
|
|
|
"Since
you opted not to respect friendship, then let's stop
respecting each other," the mayor said during his
weekly radio commentary program "Katin-awan, Baruganan"
over dyRD yesterday where he devoted half of his hourlong
radio slot to comment on the visit of de la Serna to
city hall last Wednesday.
He
described de la Serna's approach as "witch hunting"
as he drew the line between them saying "you can
do your worst, and I'm here to defend myself."
Lim
referred his letter to the city legal officer for appropriate
opinion.
|
"As
soon as the legal officer comes out with a favorable opinion,
we will be too willing to grant your request," the mayor
said.
He
expressed great surprise why all of a sudden De la Serna who
is even one of the legal counsels, suddenly changed pitch
towards him. He narrated that oftentimes after his weekly
radio program, de la Serna would host breakfast at his residence
where they shared views and opinions.
"When
I favored your opinions, you said I was good," Lim recalled,
citing past incidents like the closure of the BQ piggery in
barangay Dao where de la Serna acted as the lawyer of the
city government.
It
may be recalled that Lim and de la Serna were on the same
camp during the last elections in fighting against then re-electionist
Rep. Edgar Chatto.
But,
even this, Lim criticized de la Serna for the gutter language
he used to attack Rep. Chatto and even his late father, Assemblyman
Eladio Chatto.
He
asked de la Serna to "stop putting too much dirt when
he attacks people"
"You cannot do your style to me, because I will hit back
at you," Lim concluded while declaring the "breaking
of ties" with de la Serna.
DE
LA SERNA REPLIES
Lawyer
de la Serna, who is a bar topnotcher, expressed surprise why
Lim reacted that way when the summary of budget and expenditure
is a public document.
"If
he (Mayor Lim) has nothing to hide, then why create a big
issue out of this request?" de la Serna asked.
He
was shocked when budget officer Palma refused him the document
saying that "it needs the clearance of the mayor."
"This
comes strange to me as I don't get this attitude whenever
I request documents from the provincial government,"
he said.
He
denied having threatened budget officer Palma but admitted
that she told her that the "public is her master and
not, Mayor Lim"
Lawyer
de la Serna said he will go back to city hall next week to
demand for the said summary which is a public document.
"If
I will be denied of the document, I will sue them on the basis
of the anti-graft law and violation on the conduct of spending
of public funds," de la Serna concluded.
|
