Dizon returns P20T calamity assistance

Cebu City Councilor Alvin Dizon yesterday returned the P20,000 calamity assistance he received from the city government last December, a week after receiving the complaint filed by a lawyer before the Office of the President against Mayor Michael Rama and 13 other city officials, including himself.

“Since naay controversy, akong giuli akong P20,000 kay naa na man gu’y doubt ang calamity assistance,” Dizon told The FREEMAN.

City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas confirmed receipt of the amount from Dizon at around 11 a.m.

Cuevas said that as of yesterday, it was only Dizon who returned the P20, 000 cash assistance.

“Actually wala pa man gyoy notice of disallowance from the COA (Commission on Audit), pero basig nasamukan siguro siya sa issue ba,” Cuevas said.

She said that another member of the City Council also called her last Monday and told her that he will return his cash assistance.

“Kon mo- disallow na ang COA, ma- force gyod ang tanan nga mauli ang assistance,” Cuevas said.

Dizon explained that he accepted the assist ance because he was victim of super t yphoon Yolanda last year. Dizon hails from Ormoc in Leyte, one of the most- hit areas in the Visayas.

“Gidawat nako ang assistance in good faith, kay nabiktima man sad gyod ko,” he said.

“Among ancestral house sa Ormoc, naigo gyod sa Yolanda ug akong gihatag akong P20,000 sa akong mama,” Dizon said, adding that he just wanted to return the assistance pending resolution of the complaint filed by lawyer Reymelio Delute.

Dizon declined to answer further questions, saying that he will release his official statement t oday.

Delute filed a complaint before the Office of the President accusing Cebu City officials of “grave misconduct and grave abuse of authority.”

Delute named Rama, Dizon, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, Councilors Nestor Archival, Sr., Mary Ann delos Santos, David Tumulak, Nendell Hanz Abella, Sisinio Andales, Alvin Arcilla, Roberto Cabarrubias, Ma. Nida Cabrera, Gerardo Carillo, Eugenio Gabuya, Jr., and Noel Eleuterio Wenceslao as respondents.

The councilors who were not included in the complaint are Margarita Osmeña who “abstained” when the budget ordinance was put into vote, Leah Japson, and Richie Osmeña who “were out”, and James Cuenco who was absent during the special session.

Meanwhile, City Attorney Jerone Castillo said that he already finished the draft of the joint counteraffidavit of the respondents. It will be released to the media as soon as all respondents shall have signed it.

Dizon said that he will still sign the counteraffidavit even if he had already returned his calamity assistance.

Labella said he will personally submit their counter- affidavit to the Office of the President on or before July 14.