MMDA chief threatened with charges over alleged fund misuse Maila Ager INQUIRER.net
April 22, 2008
MANILA, Philippines -- Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando is facing possible charges if he fails to answer allegations that he misused government funds for his personal agenda, an opposition lawmaker at the House of Representatives said Tuesday.
Deputy Minority Floor Leader Roilo Golez said he would ask the Ombudsman to investigate Fernando if he could not justify the construction of pink road signs and “ugly" three-lane-U-turn slots in major roads in the metropolis.
Golez said he would also file appropriate charges against Fernando for allegedly not paying MMDA employees their P4, 000 clothing allowance for two years, destroying government property with the U-turn slots along Commonwealth Avenue and other places, and violating his own MMDA regulation mandating use of international standards for road signs.
He lamented that until now, the MMDA chief has not answered serious allegations that he was using government funds to advance his personal agenda with his giant tarpaulins bearing his picture purportedly in preparation for the 2010 elections.
"Looks like he [Fernando] is bent on creating a personality cult with his giant facial tarpaulins at government expense," Golez said in a statement.
"In recent history, two persons festooned roads and highways with his giant photos: Saddam [Hussein] and Great Leader Kim Il Sung [of North Korea]," he said.
The lawmaker also assailed the MMDA chief for allegedly justifying his extended Latin America trip purportedly to observe traffic management in countries like Colombia.
"He did not have to go far. He needed only to visit Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Indonesia, and Singapore to learn that pink road signs, pink urinals, pink pedestrian overpasses and ugly, dangerous three-lane u-turn slots are not used in civilized cities. Those signs and structures are found only in unfortunate Metro Manila and perhaps Timbuktu," Golez said.
"If he can show me any pink road signs [except for civil defense] and pink pedestrian overpasses and ugly three-lane U-turn slots in the well run ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian] cities I mentioned, I will keep my peace," he pointed out.
