OCTOBER 10-16, 2011

LP man resigns as Capitol’s barangay affairs consultant

                                                                        By EDALYN ACTA

                ROXAS CITY –Former board member  Vincent Fritz Cruz-Am, a known ally of the Liberal Party,  has resigned as  barangay affairs consultant of the Capiz provincial government effective Sept. 29,2011.

                Shortly after asking a permission from Capiz Gov. Victor Tanco to leave his post, Cruz-Am hinted that he could not swallow the “corruption” at the Capitol as among his reasons for leaving, an allegation which was later strongly denied by the governor. 

                Cruz-Am, who was one year and two-months as the Capitol’s consultant, observed that the governor ‘s  good-nature character is being abused by his department heads  and other Capitol people, particularly citing officials and employees of the Bids and Awards Committee(BAC) who, he said, are now riding in their flashy vehicles. He added that the corruption occurred in the money out and the projects of the province.

                According to Cruz-Am, it is also not clear how the P683-million loan of the province is being disbursed and  what are the specific projects it covers.

                Saying that he was willing to be a “sacrificial lamb” just to stamp out the corruption at Capitol, Cruz-Am said he has proofs as well as the names of those involved in corruption.  He would come out, he said, in due time and in a proper forum.

                “What corruption he is talking about?” countered Governor  Tanco.

                In radio interviews, Tanco said the Capitol could not have been a recipient of “Seal of Good Housekeeping” from the Department of the Interior and Local Government  had there been corruption there. The governor also cited a second COA report which carried no “adverse” report on how the money was disbursed at Capitol.

                The governor disclosed that the provincial Capitol has in its coffers  P375-million as of September 2011.

                Meanwhile, in his resignation letter addressed to Governor Tanco and dated Sept.29,2011, Cruz-Am stated:

                “It is with a heavy heart that I am tendering my resignation as head of the Barangay Affairs Office.  After thorough reflection, I have realized that I should follow another path; that is, pursuing a career for my personal betterment  and of my family.

                “I am very grateful for the experience, which, since the start of my incumbency in July 2010, has given me prestige, honor, and huge opportunity to re-experience public service this time in a larger constituency and by more meaningful means.

                “I shall leave equipped with a learning experience and the thought that my one-year stay further strengthened our public and personal affiliations under a common direction, which is labi sa tanan ang tawo.”

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