Changing the rules of the game

The Rolex Suplico-led majority in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Iloilo will stop at nothing to achieve their wicked and dark intentions to undermine the programs and projects of Governor Niel Tupas, Sr.

This was manifested in the manner by which the SP majority approved a resolution to withdraw an earlier authority given to Governor Tupas for him to contract a loan and build a convention center beside the new Iloilo Capitol building.

The project, with an estimated cost of P350 million, will rise on the property occupied by the old and dilapidated Iloilo Rehabilitation Center, which has already transferred to the new P120 million facility in Barangay Nanga, Pototan, Iloilo.

It was conceived about three years ago when the province decided to relocate its provincial jail and move prisoners to bigger quarters.

The implementation of the project is totally unacceptable to the Suplico group.

This project would become another major achievement for the Tupas administration and enhance its image as a result-oriented government that delivers the goods.

What did they do?

First, they constituted the entire Sanggunian as a committee of the whole and designated board member Arthur “Toto” Defensor, Jr. as chairman to inquire into alleged anomalies in the project.

The committee then embarked on a witch-hunt to find excuses on how to kill the project, inviting people unfamiliar with the project to give opinions and try to put its feasibility into question. The committee never invited the provincial administrator who is the best person to enlighten them about its viability and necessity. They grilled and insulted and humiliated the financial advisor to the project, Mr. David Bunevacz, just to create doubt about its wisdom.

On the over-all, the committee could not find the right excuse to kill the project. Nobody could show that the project is not viable. Nobody disputed the fact that it will help Iloilo become a major convention venue, which will in turn push the economy of the province forward. The committee’s leadership ignored the apparent benefits from the project. In short, they were only interested in killing the project, and any testimony in favor of the project was unwelcome. Whenever Mr. Bunavacz tried to explain the benefits of the project, and the feasibility as an income generating facility, he was cut short.

It was clear that the committee had pre-judged the project before the hearing, and it was hardly surprising that its report was totally against the project. Hence, in the last week of October 2007, chairman Defensor submitted his report and asked for a withdrawal of the authority given to the governor, notwithstanding the fact that the governor had already signed the loan agreement with Philippine Veterans Bank, and the project is already at the stage where the designs are being finalized.

But then there was a catch.

The Suplico group found out that the internal rules of procedure for the Sanggunian imposed a two-thirds vote requirement for the rescission or abrogation of an ordinance or resolution.

That meant they needed ten (10) votes. Their voting strength was only eight (

Their solution? Change the rules of the game.

The Defensor report was tabled momentarily, and the majority worked to change the internal rules of procedure.

Unnoticed by the minority, the majority floor leader, Oscar Richard Garin, changed the language of that portion on amendments or abrogation or revision of previously approved ordinances and resolutions. Instead of a two-thirds vote, the new rule lowered the vote requirement to only “majority of all members present”.

When this maneuver was noticed, the minority hollered in protest. But nothing can stop the Suplico-Garin-Defensor cabal. The measure was passed. The minority was simply out-voted.

Now that the rules have been changed to favor them, the majority took the Defensor report from the table and approved it last Thursday afternoon. Seven members voted in favor of the report, three said “nay” while one abstained. In a convenient maneuver that would otherwise be called “cheating” in a game of basketball, the majority rescinded the authority given to the governor.

Governor Tupas, however, is unfazed by this childish, unethical and illegal act.

The loan agreement has been signed, and contractual obligations have been created.

The Constitution says that “no law impairing the obligation of contracts shall be passed.”

The resolution is not exactly a law, but it is seeking the same purpose: to impair the contractual obligations between the province and the bank.

Besides, the benefits from the project are many and will redound to the general welfare of the people of Iloilo.

With this in mind, that resolution is a mere scrap of paper signed by Suplico’s group, an expression of their sentiments to block anything good to be done by the Tupas administration. This is politics at its worst.

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Tags: convention center, Defensor, government projects, impairment of contracts, Philippine Veterans Bank, Suplico, Tupas

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