Reform team organized in Romblon
(Published in the MANILA BULLETIN  dated Sunday, January 28, 2001)

          Nicon F. Fameronag, Chief of Staff of Senate President Pro Tempore Blas F. Ople in the Commission on Appointments, has emerged as the leader of a group of young and progressive politicians which has been waging a campaign to institute swwping economic and political reforms in the province of Romblon.
        Fameronag has been chosen by the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (Laban) as the congressional candidate in the May 14 elections representing the province's lond district.
       "For decades now, Romblon has been lorded over by policitians whose leadership and accomplishment records are not only suspect but are at worst deplorable," Fameronag said after he was proclaimed by Laban President Edgardo J. Angara at the Manila Hotel the other day. "The Romblomanons must have an alternative," he said.
         Fameronag's of genuine reform is led by the Romblon Reform Caucus (RRC), a group of young professionals headed by retired police general Orville Gabuna advocating change in Romblon. Gabuna is the Laban candidate of governor while Armand Gutierrez is his vice governor.

Atillano asks prov'l treasurer: Act on "cash shortage" case
(Published in the ROMBLON TODAY , Volume 2, dated December 15, 2000)

        Sibale  -  Diosdado Atillanno, an aspiring candidate for mayor of this town, is urging the provincial treaurer's office and the Commission on Audit to immediately act on the endorsement of Mayor Betty Se�orin for the resolution of the "cash shortage" allegedly incurred by OIC municipal treasurer Adoracion Fedelin while in the performance of her duties.
       The past few months, Atillano has been busy writing letters to various offices and officials of the local, provincial and national government to inquire as to the veracity and nature of the alledged shortage but seemed to have hit a blank wall. He could not establish a prima facie case to warrant an investigation of the case. His recourse was to send Romblon Today copies of his letters of inquiry.
      The issue of the alledged cash shortage was triggered by Mr. Atillano's letter to Mayor Se�orin on June 15, 2000, in which he reminded the mayor that she has not replied to his previous query on the matter.
       On July 10, 2000 Mayor Se�orin replied to Atillano that she has already indorsed the case to the COA and the provincial treasurer.
       "As a matter of fact, I recommended her for preventive suspension because I cannot suspend her for the reason that it is the provincial treasurer who appoint(ed) her as OIC of the Office of the Treasurer," Mayor Se�orin said.
       "But the provincial treasurer told me to give her (Mrs. Fedelin) a chance to restitute the amount involved through installment payment. As a matter of fact beginning the month of April 2000, she is not receiving anymore her monthly salary because it's her monthly installment payment for her cash shortages," the mayor added.
      Atillano has also written the Department of Finance on the issue but Finance Undersecretary Lily Gruba endorsed his inquiry to Edmundo T. Dasig, Jr., regional director of the Bureau of Local Government Finance, an attached bureau of the DoF.
      However, in a letter dated June 26, RD Dasig explained that for an administrative complaint like preventive suspension to prosper, the proper procedures underCivil Service rules and regulations must be followed.
      He cited Rule 11, section 8, of CSC Resolution No. 991936 dated August 31, 1999, which states that "for an administrative complaint against a civil service official or employee be given due course, it must be in writing and subscribed and sworn to by the complainant."
      The said resolution also states that "the complaint must contain the full name and address of the complainant, full name and address of the person complained of, as well as position and office of employment, a narration of relevant facts which shows the acts or omission alledgedly committed by the official or employee, certified true copies of documentary evidence, and affidavit of witnesses if any, and a certification or statement of non-forum shopping."
       Atillano did not reveal what his next move will be regarding this matter.