In a letter addressed to Mayor Edsel Belleza of Bacacay, Albay, Congressman Edcel Lagman of the First District of Albay, accuses the municipal administration of orchestrating the replacement of original basketball boards at the Bacacay Sports Center with new ones featuring the names of political allies. The letter claims that the replacements bear inscriptions crediting Representative Joey Salceda and Ako Bicol Partylist Representatives Elizaldy Co and Jil Bongalon.
According to the letter dated December 17, 2023, Lagman alleges that the new boards, which now display partisan messages, were installed without proper authorization and credit the individuals involved in the replacement for a project they did not sponsor or contribute funding to. The original boards, he says, were devoid of any credits or inscriptions.
Congressman Lagman asserts that neither Mayor Belleza (who has just assumed as the town’s local chief executive after the death of Mayor Dinky Romano), nor Representatives Salceda, Co, and Bongalon contributed to the funding of the Bacacay Sports Center’s construction, which he claims to have actively worked towards during his tenure as the district’s representative.
The letter concludes with a demand from Congressman Lagman, urging Mayor Belleza to promptly remove the replacement basketball boards and reinstall the original ones, which, according to him, were well-maintained and serviceable.
The allegations made by Congressman Lagman suggest a controversy surrounding the attribution of credit for the Bacacay Sports Center project, raising questions about accountability and transparency within the local government. As the community awaits Mayor Belleza’s response, the situation remains fluid, with potential implications for the political landscape in Bacacay.
