The Matugas brothers with the Aquino sisters. Photo credit: Jun Lira |
By
Eugenio Lira, Jr.
DAPA, Surigao del Norte —
Malacañang Palace has announced on Wednesday, March 27, a P110-million
financial grant from the Social Fund of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III
for the modernization of the Siargao airport.
The move was seen as Malacañang’s
support to Rep. Francisco Matugas’ commitment to transform Siargao Island,
officially known as the country’s surfing capital, as one of the major tourism
destinations in Asia-Pacific region.
The announcement was
made during the official visit of DILG Secretary Mar Roxas and DOTC Secretary
Joseph Emilio Abaya to Siargao
Island where they made an
ocular inspection of the island’s airport and the proposed runway extension
development.
They also inspected the
new Tourist Police stations in Dapa and General Luna towns and the newly-converted
LTO District Office for Siargao located in Dapa which came into being with President Benigno Aquino III’s recent approval
of R.A. 10391. They also visited Dedon Island Resort and the world-famous Cloud
9 surfing area in General Luna where they met with local officials and
discussed Malacañang’s series of
financial aids to support Rep. Matugas’ plans to bring more development to the country’s
surfing capital.
Roxas and Abaya promised
to lobby for additional speedy release of presidential funds to fast-track
improvements in Siargao
Island aimed at boosting
the tourism businesses in the area. They envisioned the island as one of the
major tourism destinations in Asia-Pacific region in the next five to ten years
as evidenced by the increasing arrivals of foreign and domestic tourists and
the rising data on foreign and domestic investments in the area.
The two also promised to
promote Siargao as a “Paradise
Island ” and to bring the
ambassadors of different countries into the place in a confidence-building move
for the local economy to open up its door to unlimited opportunities that would
be brought by the international tourism community. (JLira, Contributor)
هناك تعليقان (2):
This airport project on Siargao Island will also benefit all of Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Island, and Surigao City.
As more than P50,000,000.00 is involved (P63,000,000.00, more or less)the violation by respondent and his co-host constitute the crime of PLUNDER as defined and penalized under Section 2 of R.A. No. 7080.
MAY THE RESPONDENT BE DISQUALIFIED EVEN WITHOUT COURT CONVICTION FOR PLUNDER?
Again, the question must be answered AFFIRMATIVELY.
While conviction for plunder serves to penalize the offending public officer by imposing upon him the appropriate term of imprisonment and fine, conviction in criminal case, however is not the only penalty which the guilty public officer must suffer as a consequence of plunder.
This is because the Commission of Audit is a QUASI-JUDICIAL COURT whose acts maybe challenge in the Appellate Courts, Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. But in this case, the Decision became final and executory.
WHEREFORE, it is most respectfully prayed that the Petition be GRANTED and the respondent FRANCISCO T. MATUGAS be DISQUALIFIED.
This is based on the memorandum filed by the lawyer of the petitioner Atty. Manuel Castro last April 18, 2013.
إرسال تعليق