POLITICS aside, it is in the best interest of the Ilonggos to know the real score at the Iloilo Provincial Government. How their governor, the dispenser of local government largesse, treats and spends taxpayers money is certainly an issue imbued with public interest.

Politics aside, it is in the best interest of Governor Niel Tupas Sr. to clear himself of the serious allegations about his integrity as a public official and as a person. He owes it to his God, the people he serves, and his own family.

Politics aside, it is in the best interest of truth and justice if Tupas’s accuser, Vice Governor Rolex Suplico, makes good follow up on his January 6, 2009 privilege speech cum exposé on what he called as “corrupt provincial administration” what with the series of irregularities and anomalies unearthed by the Commission on Audit. Follow up could mean a no-nonsense investigation by the Ombudsman which presupposes the filing of appropriate charges.

Stories about graft and corruption abound at the Capitol and have become constant fodders in media. Such stories stream endlessly even to this day what with the Commission on Audit’s report detailing the anomalies and irregularities.

But where is the beef? The governor might ask in the way of foxes digging hole.

Aha! So there lies the challenge for Vice Governor Suplico.

A veteran politician having survived a good number of Philippine presidents, corruption charges are nothing new to Governor Tupas. The memory of a not too distant past remains vivid – the record of Iloilo’s 5th District having the longest ghost barangay road projects in the whole country. This was investigated by the Provincial Board before but Tupas, obviously, came out of it unscathed despite the fact that he ruled the district as assemblyman and later as congressman when the anomalies of ghost barangay roads became a national phenomenon.

So, where is the beef? The governor might ask.

Vice Governor Suplico points to the Governor’s mansion believed to be worth more than P20 million. Some say it’s now worth over P30 million. The more zeroes you add to the mansion’s price tag the more you get curious as to how the Governor, who has no visible business and economic base from which he can source millions, managed to build such an expensive mansion. A politician whom Tupas defeated in a previous political fight exclaimed, “Maskin iti wala gid negosyo ini si Niel apang damu kwarta!”

How, indeed!

But Suplico needs more than just a mansion to nail down his point about the suspicious, nay intriguing, lifestyle of the Tupases led by Governor Niel who, reports say, has given the marching orders for at least four of his children to also run for various elective posts in 2010. Suplico can start sifting through the Governor’s statement of assets and liabilities; how many cars does the Tupas family maintain aside from the official one issued by the Capitol; how previously blacklisted suppliers with shady deals managed to sneak back and do business at the Capitol. Suplico may also check reports about househelps serving the Tupas household at the expense of the provincial government. Suplico may also revisit the construction of the new Capitol building to see for himself how grossly overpriced even small items such as door knobs and facial mirrors.

Just for starters.

One Response to “Lifestyle of the Tupases”

• 1
  Dr. Antonio Gestosani
  January 9th, 2009 10:23

  Lifestyle check for Governor only? There are many of you who are living high and mighty now. The truth of the matter is, politics is very profitable business in the Philippines. Just look around your district; who owns many mansion houses, who have hummer cars, and, who enjoy many other perks courtesy of the Philippine Government? Where do you think they got the money? And from where they came from, do you think they had won the lottery? Of course not . And why do you think they don’t hesitate to spend millions of their money during election if they don’t expect a hefty return? It’s no brainer the crooks want to be politicians. Go figure.

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