Khu shuts up, shows no proof of ‘ghosts’

By SHIELA MAE BUTLIG, Correspondent .

PROVINCIAL board member Frederick Khu kept mum as he faced Vice Gov. Jose Mari Pelaez and other Misamis Oriental legislators in a session for the first time since he promised to show proof of alleged “ghost employees” in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

Khu just sat there and did not say a word as the provincial board tackled items in its agenda.

Last month, Khu dropped a bombshell on the provincial legislature with allegations that it has been spending public funds on “ghost employees.”

After the provincial board majority expressed dismay over Khu’s pronouncements and called the allegations baseless, he promised to present his evidence the following week. But lack of quorum prevented the province’s legislature from holding a session until Monday.

Khu did not make good his promise to present his evidence on the existence of “ghost employees” in the provincial board during the session.

In a text message to this paper, Vice Gov. Pelaez, who presided over the session, said Khu “did not say anything last session.”

But while he was soft while the provincial board was on session, he turned feisty when he was asked by this paper about his evidence when his colleagues were away.

Khu said he was not yet done with the alleged “ghost employees” and that he was merely waiting for Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano to act on his request for copies of the list of “job order” workers and their payroll under the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

In an earlier interview, Khu had said he was about to show his evidence before the provincial board but two sessions were called off due to a lack of quorum. The following week, there was no quorum again because Khu walked out of the provincial board.

Khu said he was not singling out anyone but his “exposé” was intended for the provincial board in its entirety.

“Ako nang gi ingon nga kita, ang atong departamento, so atong paimbestigahan,” he said.

Asked how he defines “ghost employees,” Khu said, “Kanang naay mga pangalan sa payroll nga wala nagtrabaho, non-existing.”

And then he added: “Naa man gud sa ato dinhi usahay nga usa  ra katawo ang mag kobra.”

Khu said that is why he asked Emano to order the provincial treasurer’s and human resources management office of the capitol to provide the list of “job order” workers and the payroll.

Data from the capitol’s human resources management office show that the capitol has 346 casual employees and 1,507 “job order” workers. Of the provincial government’s 346 casual workers, only 56 are under the provincial board. The province’s legislature also has 352 of the capitol’s 1,507 “job order” workers.

Khu said he was not keen on seeking an investigation into the entire “job order” work force of the capitol, explaining that he was only concerned about the alleged “ghost employees”in the provincial board.

“Ang ato lang departamento sa SP kay mao ramay gi-accuse,” he said.

Asked about who made the allegation, Khu said, “concerned citizens.”

“Daghan pagpatay sa manok, daghan pamaagi, mapangitaan nimo’g lusot unsa nga pamaagi nga makakuha ka ana (Philhealth number and all) kung magkuha kag Philhealth. Muadto ka didto tagaan ka diristo, dili na gani ka kwestiyonon,” Khu said.

He said members of the provincial board majority were wrong in their collective statement against his allegations.

“Kung mag storya mo ana, murag mog kamo ra kamao ana sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan. Daghan  kabalo ana nga dili myembro sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan. Dili kamo ray bright,” he said.

Khu threatened again to reveal the alleged “ghost employees” soon.