Top officials of Tobias Fornier, Antique settle rift

The rift between the mayor and the vice mayor of Tobias Fornier town in the Province of Antique has been resolved, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Western Visayas.

Mayor Ernesto Tajanlangit III and Vice Mayor Jose Maria Fornier figured in a squabble on the distribution of DSWD family food packs to constituents affected heavily by the El Niño phenomenon.  

DSWD 6 Director Carmelo Nochete, in an interview with GMA Super Radyo Iloilo, confirmed that the top officials involved have agreed that the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer should lead the distribution of family food packs. 

Atty. Nochete pointed out that it is the agency’s normal process to release the food packs to the Local Government Unit and not to any particular government official.  

Before the release of food packs from their warehouse,  a request letter from the Local Chief Executive (or the Mayor) is required as well as a situational report on the specific number of families affected, and a distribution plan that indicates the desired date, time, venue, and names of beneficiaries. Nochete clarified that DSWD does not release food packs to vice mayors. Nochete has reminded government officials to keep adhering to rules and regulations in order to avoid conflict. 

To recall, GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas reported that Fournier was seen in a video footage embarking on a truck loaded with DSWD food packs and revving it up. Mayor Tajanlangit also got in the truck and wrestled for the key. 

Afterwhich, the two officials went at the back of the truck where Fornier was seen in a video attempting to close the truck's door, and the mayor throwing a punch at him. 

The truck carried at least 800 family food packs.

According to a statement posted by Fornier on his social media account, he requested the food packs from Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao for residents who have been affected severely by the ill effects of El Niño but who are not part of any social amelioration program of the government. 

However, the vice mayor said, when the truck returned from the town of San Jose, it was flagged down reportedly by the mayor’s group in Barangay Balud, Tobias Fornier.

Tajanlangit said the process in distribution of food packs to beneficiaries was not observed properly, thus the truck was barred. 

Governor Cadiao refused the GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas news team a recorded interview, but she clarified, off-camera, that she approved the release of the food packs. 

She said she has the authority to do so being chairperson of the Antique Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Council. However, she said she only knew of 500 packs intended for Tobias Fornier. 

Tajanlangit and Fornier both apologized for the alarm and scandal that the incident caused to the public on April 30, 2024.

(via RTenorio/GMA Super Radyo Iloilo, Julius Belaca-ol/GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas)

--GMA Regional TV