By
Dino Balabo
MALOLOS
CITY—The Diocese of Malolos disclaimed news reports that Bishop Jose Oliveros
and priests of the diocese are receiving honoraria from the provincial
government.
As
this developed, actor turned politician Vice Gov. Daniel Fernando admitted that
he had 20 of the reported 72 consultants, leaving 52 to Gov. Wilhelmino
Alvarado who remained mum as of press time.
Other
provincial official defended the hiring of consultants at the Capitol saying
that local government units are allowed to do so.
In
a one page statement issued on Wednesday, the Diocese of Malolos said,” the
Roman Catholic Church of Malolos, clarifies that the bishops and priests
referred to in the aforementioned report are not the Roman Catholic Bishop of
Malolos and not the Clergy of the Diocese of Malolos. The phrase “Bulacan
bishops and priests” should not be understood as the Clergy of the Catholic
Church in Bulacan.”
The
said statement was signed by Father Dario Cabral, the chair of the Commission
on Social Communications of the diocese.
Cabral
said that they conducted their own investigation and it was found that bishops
and priests who receive monthly honoraria from the Provincial Capitol came from
different sects within the province of Bulacan.
In
its statement, the diocese even identified a bishop from another sect, one
Ephraim Perez, who “presents himself as the bishop of the Christian Catholic
Church,” a small sect within Bulacan and became a consultant of the provincial
jail.
Perez,
the statement said “used to receive P20,000 to P25,000 a month.”
According
to Cabral, if the clergy of the Diocese of Malolos engaged themselves in any
way with the provincial government, it is in the “work of ministry.”
“We
do hereby disclaim the news that the Bishop of Malolos, Most. Rev. Jose F.
Oliveros, D.D. and the clergy of Malolos receive honoraria from the provincial
government of Bulacan,” the statement said.
For
his part, Vice-Governor Fernando admitted that he had 20 out of the reported 72
consultants of the provincial government.
However,
he clarified that those consultants which includes lawyers, and doctors are not
his personal consultants, but of the entire sangguniang panlalawigan.
One
of those identified by Fernando is former Vice-Gov. Aurelio Plamenco who is
receiving P35,000 a month.
With
regards to pastors and priests as consultants, Fernando said he did not have
any, but also admitted that some pastors sought assistance from him.
He
also clarified “love gifts” he handed to pastors are part of his earning as an
actor noting that he recently became more active in filming independent films
and teleseryes.
With
regards to the length of services of consultants, Senior Board Member Michael
Fermin clarified that they can be terminated anytime.
“They
are contractual, and their services are only as long as they are needed,”
Fermin said.
He
also explained that local government units are allowed to hire consultants
based on their experience and expertise.
Bu
news stories citing a Commission on Audit (COA) report said that some
consultants hired by the provincial government are high school graduates and do
not possess educational qualifications and work experience required by their
work assignments.