Frasco couple on ambulance case: Nonsensical, political

“Utterly nonsensical and clearly political.” This was how couple, Cebu Fifth District Rep. Duke Frasco and Liloan Mayor Christina Frasco, described the complaint against them before the Ombudsman for alleged irregularities in the donation of ambulances.

“Ambulances save lives. Their refusal to accept the ambulances is what gravely endangers the public now deprived of the services of these life-saving vehicles,” they said in a statement released on March 5, 2022.

Barangay Captains in Danao City, Don Roel Arias of Poblacion and Joselito Cane of Looc, have said that the ambulances placed their barangays and residents in grave mortal danger because “recipients are unprepared and lack of competence, expertise and knowledge to operate the same, making the whole project useless and a waste of precious public funds.”

They said the vehicles were delivered to their barangays without their presence and their personnel were allegedly forced to receive the ambulances on behalf of the barangay.

Arias and Cane said they declined the donation because they were not ready to operate an ambulance unit.

They also took offense that the vehicles were printed with the words, TEAM FRASCO and Congressman Duke Frasco.

“This showed the unabashed and outrageous claims and postures of the respondents to utilizes the properties for their personal interests and gain for the furtherance of the political pursuits of Team Frasco, the political and electoral team of respondents Frasco,” their 23-page complaint reads.

In their statement, the Frasco couple said the turnover of the ambulances had the full authority of the Cebu Provincial Government.

In fact, personnel of the Provincial General Services Office were present at that time and have all requisite documents proving such authority.

The ambulances were procured with the use of funds from the national government that Duke facilitated to be downloaded to the provincial government.

“Following the logic of the Captains and their principals, apparently it is now illegal for the duly elected representative of the Fifth District of Cebu to serve his constituents in Danao City by providing much needed emergency vehicles, and for his one and only wife to accompany him,” they said.

They pointed out that the barangay captains’ refusal to allow help to reach the people of Danao has reportedly been consistent — from pandemic aid, dressed chickens, livelihood assistance, solar streetlights, covered courts, and other public infrastructure.

“They would rather that the people suffer than receive help,” the statement reads, adding, “in truth, the only illegality here is in the taking and continued unauthorized possession of the ambulances out of the spite of bitter political defeat.”

The barangay captains said the Frasco couple violated Republic Act (RA) 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees and RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in relation to the Administrative Code of the Philippines and the Republic Act 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code of the Philippines.

Duke is seeking reelection against former Fifth District Representative Ramon “Red” Durano VI. Frasco defeated Durano in the 2019 local and national elections.