DESPITE their past verbal clash over the Covid-19 cash aid distribution in Cagayan de Oro City, Councilor Joyleen Mercedes ‘Girlie’ Balaba said today that she can work with Councilor James Judith II.
“At the end of the day if he (Judith) is accepted into the majority/administration bloc and the one who can decide that is the leader of the administration bloc namely Mayor Rolando ‘Klarex’ Uy, I can assure the mayor that I can work diplomatically and civilly with whoever will join us,” Balaba said in Visayan.
During the program ‘Ang Inyong Konseho Karon,’ Balaba acknowledged her previous heated exchange with Judith over his handling of the inquiry into the Covid-19 cash aid distribution in the city.
Balaba said Judith used the issue as political ammunition to fuel his 2022 election campaign.
“The conduct of an investigation into the ‘ayuda’ (aid) became a priority for him,” she said.
As chairperson of the City Council’s social services committee, Balaba recalled telling Judith that the 19th City Council already deliberated on the issue and even invited officials and key personnel of the City Social Welfare Development Department (CSWD) and other departments to ensure that there won’t be any irregularity in the listing and distribution of the pandemic cash aid.
“But Judith insisted and so we at the majority bloc created an adhoc committee (for this purpose). Instead, Judith reported the committee findings to local media and I called his attention on it, asking the blue ribbon and ethics committee (to investigate the propriety) of him disclosing the findings without (even giving us a copy),” Balaba said.
About P767.8 million were allocated as Covid-19 cash aid by the national government to Cagayan de Oro City in 2021 after the city was placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) status due to the spike of Covid-19 cases.
“I told Judith that (the P767.8 million cash aid) came from the national government and not from the city,” Balaba said.
Both Judith and Councilor Malvern Esparcia later filed a graft complaint against former mayor Oscar Moreno and two officials in relation to the case.
In their complaint at the Ombudsman, the two said they accused Moreno, former city administrator Teddy Sabuga-a and former CSWD chief Michael Fabello of mishandling the distribution of the Covid-19 cash aid.
Speculations over Judith’s exit from the opposition along with Esparcia surfaced following their absence in last Monday’s council session.
Balaba said she couldn’t blame Vice Mayor Jocelyn Rodriguez for her dismay over Judith and Esparcia’s decisions to leave the opposition.
“I empathize and understand her reaction. Lesson learned is that we should respect each other regardless of our political views and exercise some courtesy because it would reflect on your character (if you didn’t),” Balaba said. (Stephen Capillas of City Information Office)
