Taxpayers in Tabuk City, Kalinga are dreaming to block the release of an almost 2B loan application by the city government pointing out legalities and questioning its propriety ahead of the May 2022 polls.
Petitioners last January 13, 2022 asked for a temporary restraining order (TRO) at the Regional Trial Court Branch 25 to prevent the government-run Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) from releasing the P1,925,000,000 loan application of Tabuk City.
Jerome B. Tabanganay, Jamillah S. Dalilis, Casan M. Calil, Sunshine S. Busaing, and Engr. Daniel C. Peckley Jr., in behalf of taxpayers petitioned the court to stop the government-run DBP, Tabuk CLGU represented by Mayor Darwin C. Estrañero, Acting Vice Mayor, Atty. Zorayda Mia M. Wacnang, and members of Sangguniang Panlungsod from consumating the loan that might just, according to the petitioners, go to corruption.
Tabanganay, a local broadcaster in Tabuk City said over his personal social media account, “Maawa po kayo sa mga Tabukenyo, huwag po kayo mangutang ng dalawang bilyong piso sa Development Bank of the Philippines. Mag-eleksion na po sa May 9, 2022 at hindi po kayo sigurado na mananalo uli, bakit kayo mangutang ng napakalaking pera sa DPB. Tabukenyo GISING na po tayong lahat. NO TO DBP LOAN, NO TO CORRUPTION!”
Tabanganay and his group claim that the Tabuk City Sangguniang Panlungsod approved on September 7, 2020 the request of Mayor Estrañero to negotiate and sign agreements with DBP for a standby letter of credit, in effect, allowing the mayor to enter into Omnibus Term Loan Agreement.
