Ecija top execs slam each other over ‘graft’

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija — Gov. Aurelio Matias Umali slammed his vice governor, Edward Thomas F. Joson, for "grandstanding" for media.

Umali reacted to Joson’s allegations that he and his wife, 3rd District Rep. Czarina D.
Umali, were involved in the alleged overcharging of 93 units of multi-cab vehicles that were distributed to the poorest barangays in the province.

Umali said Joson’s "latest gimmick" was "a malicious act of derailment of the past and present Joson administration, meant to cover up the graft charges he caused to be filed against his father, former governor Tomas N. Joson III, and several other mayors."

The graft charges against the elder Joson and other local officials concerned the donation of 25 heavy equipment and several luxury vehicles issued to mayors allied with them, and the alleged non-remittance of withholding taxes, Philhealth and Pag-Ibig contributions totaling P155 million.

Joson also filed graft charges against Umali for appointing Edgardo Rillon as provincial information officer, which the Civil Service Commission (CSC) rejected for alleged lack of eligibility. Joson claimed Rillon continues to receive his salary despite the CSC’s rejection.

Joson also scored the appointments of lawyers Alejandro Abesamis as provincial administrator and Ferdinand Abesamis as legal consultant.

He said the appointment of Ferdinand Abesamis violated the Local Government Code since Abesamis had been dismissed from government service during the time of former President Estrada.

Abesamis, who was then connected with the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission, was fired by then Justice Secretary Serafin Cuevas for alleged irregularities.

Umali said these acts were "pure and simple acts of political harassment intended to derail my administration in effecting changes of the political image of Nueva Ecija as a violence-prone province and turning it into an agricultural and industrial hub."

"The efforts of Joson and company to freeze my administration is unrelenting and continuing even before, and right after I have already taken my oath of office," he added. "These actions of Vice Gov. Joson prejudice and harm the Novo Ecijanos, more than they do me."

Umali also called the developments as a "Joson-brand of muzzling the people," and called on Novo Ecijanos "to come out and denounce them for their acts. For evil to triumph, all that good men need to do is not do anything," he said. – Magtanggol C. Vilar