Priest defends Tribunalo amid issues

Capitol’s Baltazar Tribunalo is a "man of honor," a "man of truth," and a "man with principles," at least as far as priest Roy Bucag knows the embattled official.

Bucag, the diocesan priest in Santa Fe town, came to Tribunalo’s defense following an investigation into accusations

Tribunalo allegedly touched the private part of a staff member at the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).

The Provincial Women's Commission (PWC) is conducting the investigation.

Tribunalo is also being accused of allegedly making a job order worker of the Capitol plant at his farm.

But the outspoken priest said of his former teacher:

"Sa pagkakaron, di ko mutuo tungod kay under investigation pa man kaha as I read it sa news... Mao nakaingon ko nga dili kay lahi sa akong pagkaila ni Sir Baltz… dili siya ingon niana," he said.

"Dili na siya madala'g bayad labi na karon nga strikto siya anang mga illegal (quarrying) sa sapa. Daghan na siya'g nabangga nga mga inila pero di na siya mahadlok," Bucag added.

Bucag said Tribunalo was a former seminarian who found his passion in mobilizing communities in the barangay and in the parish so he could bring positive change and development.

"When I was still a seminarian, very active na siya sa parokya. Karon gani, bisan unsa niya ka busy, aduna'y mga panahon nga maghatag na siya'g leadership seminars," he said.

"He was my teacher in high school (Saint Francis Academy in Balamban town, Cebu) when he was on regency. He was a former seminarian then," Bucag revealed.

They first met during a gathering of seminarians from Balamban and Asturias.

“One time, napili na namo siya nga president ana nga organization kay he is good in community organizing," he said.

The Tribunalo he knows, Bucag said, is one who has a heart for the poor and who takes part in crusades to protect the environment.

POST PROBLEMS

On a separate matter, the department head position at the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) that Tribunalo also holds temporarily remains vacant even after months of announcement.

One of the reasons, Tribunalo explained, is the difficulty in qualifying for the post, considering that it requires technical knowledge on both environment and management.

Tribunalo was made to explain the situation during the budget hearing after the Committee on Budget and Appropriations questioned why he is holding two posts.

The hearing was conducted to look into PENRO's budget for 2018.

Because of the technical requirement, only a few reportedly can qualify for the post and those with potential to qualify have also not shown interest, Tribunalo said.

Aside from the office head position, other positions in PENRO may be opened next year if the Provincial Board approves. These include Assistant Department Head, Community Development Assistant, Development Management Officer, Senior Environmentalist Specialists, Environmental Management Specialists, Administrative Assistants, and Zoning Inspectors.

For 2018, PENRO proposed a P33.5 million budget. This is slightly higher than its current budget with a disparity of P291,885.56.

PENRO is the second office with the lowest increase rate next to the Provincial Budget Office.