Malacañang on Thursday rejected allegations that the ₱500-million allocation for the retrofitting of the Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum in Naga City was intended to gain the political support of Mayor Leni Robredo.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said assistance from the national government is not limited to Naga City and should not automatically be interpreted as political maneuvering.
“Wala po itong pinipili. Kung ano yung kailangan ng local government, yun po ang pwedeng matugunan kung kakayanin,” Castro said during the Palace press briefing on September 17.
Castro was responding to Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice, who questioned the allocation at the House of Representatives, asking: “Bakit nagbigay ng ₱500 milyon sa Naga? Ano’ng naging batayan? O pinupulitika lang ito ni Presidente dahil gusto niyang maging kakampi si Mayor Leni Robredo?”
The Palace official urged critics to first ask Naga City officials about the assistance before concluding that it was politically motivated.
“Hindi po porket si dating bise presidente Leni Robredo, now mayor Leni Robredo ng Naga City, ay nabigyan ng ganitong klaseng pagtulong, namumulitika ka na,” Castro said.
The ₱500 million was released through a Special Allotment Release Order for the retrofitting and modernization of the coliseum, including structural improvements, drainage upgrades, sanitation facilities, a community kitchen and medical response areas.
Castro also cautioned against giving political interpretations to national government assistance to local governments, saying, “Huwag nating bigyan ng masamang interpretasyon ang ginagawang magandang ugnayan ng national government sa local government.”
“Hindi lahat ng ginagawa ng national government e puro pamumulitikang katulad ng ginagawa nila,” she added.
