Fernando clears air on NFEx issue
CITY OF MALOLOS- “Saan man at kailanman, wala sa pagkatao ni Daniel Fernando ang magbebenta ng karapatan ng kaniyang kalalawigan, lalo na nang maliliit at walang tinig sa lipunan.”
This was the statement given by Governor Daniel R. Fernando during the Joint Forum with Selected Legislators and Executives of the Provincial Government of Bulacan which aims to enlighten the public servants on the issues circulating about the North Food Exchange (NFEx) project.
The meeting was held after Vice Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado’s personal and collective privilege speech discussed the failed multi-million national project, as if pointing fingers to unnamed individuals who seemed to be the ones who are responsible.
“Kung papakinggan po ang nasabing talumpati, tila may pinariringgan na hindi naman pinangalanan at may isinasangkot na hindi rin tiniyak kung sino. Medyo nagbubunga ito ng kalituhan,” Fernando added.
“Ang tungkulin ko sa usaping ito ay ginawa ko mula pa sa simula, at patuloy kong itataguyod ang hustisya habang ito ay may nalalabing puwang, gaano man kaliit. Nais ko ring ipahatid sa lahat, wala akong sisinuhin kapag ang kapakanan ng lalawigan ang nasasangkot,” the governor said.
He also said the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Presiding Officer may choose to re-open the case.
“Kapag lumabas na ang desisyon ng mataas na hukuman in its very final decision, at kung sa pakiramdam ng bawat isa ay hindi nanaig ang hustisya, bilang Sanggunian, may karapatan po kayo na bisitahing muli ang usaping ito,” he said.
According to the factual narration of former board member and now Councilor Atty. Enrique Dela Cruz, Jr. that were obtained from documents from the Court last 2013, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan then led by Fernando issued a resolution giving authority to then governor Alvarado to file a case against the Southeast Asia Commodities and Food Exchange Inc (SACFEI).
“Sa maliwanag pong salaysay, hindi nagkulang ang SP sa pangunguna ni Daniel R. Fernando bilang Vice Governor dahil inaksyunan naman po natin. Nagbigay po tayo ng resolusyon upang maisampa ang naturang kaso,” cleared Dela Cruz.
To conclude his speech, Fernando calls on everyone to refrain from using such issues for political gains.
“Matapos ang pagpupulong na ito, ako ay umaasa na matitigil na ang maling alegasyon at insinuasyon laban sa inyong lingkod,” Fernando ended.
Also present in the joint forum are Board Members Allan Andan, Romina Fermin, Bernardo Ople, Jr., Erlene Dela Cruz, Ramon Posadas, Romeo Castro, Jr., Emelita Viceo, Enrique Delos Santos, Jr., Alex Castro, Allan Ray Baluyut, and Ramilito Capistrano; Provincial Administrator Antonette Constantino; Chief of Staff Atty. Jayric Amil; Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Gabriel Silvera; Consultant Atty. Rustico De Belen; former Board Members Felix Ople and Rino Castro; and Atty. Joey Inocencio.
It can be recalled that the NFEx was designed to become the processing, storage, and trading center of agricultural products from provinces north of Metro Manila. ###