Monday, July 21, 2008 Mayor: Church not City Hall got Pacquiao's P1.5M By Erwin Cabarles
ILOILO City Mayor Jerry Treñas clarified that boxing champion Manny Pacquiao gave P1.5 million to the church to buy relief goods for typhoon victims and not to the City Government.
Treñas made the clarification following reports that the boxing champ donated P1.5 million cash to the city following his Iloilo visit on Thursday last week.
"Manny gave the P1.5 million to the church and not to the city, contrary to what other information says. The church used it to buy goods for the public," Treñas said.
The mayor said he wants to correct the wrong information because the public may be asking for more assistance from the city thinking that Pacquiao donated funds.
Treñas said the City Government didn't receive a penny from the boxing champ and that his entire donation went to the church.
Last week, people swamped the premises of the Jaro Cathedral to get relief goods from Pacquiao's P1.5 million donation and also hoping to personally see or get a glimpse of the country's boxing hero.
Pacquiao didn't stay long in the city. After a few talks with local officials and Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, the boxing champ proceeded to Bacolod City.
Earlier, Treñas dismissed other wrong information concerning donations from some individuals.
There was an earlier report saying big-time businessman Lucio Tan donated P5 million to the city but which the mayor strongly denied.
Treñas said if there were such a donation from Tan, the city wouldn't have bothered asking for aid from the National Government.
The mayor also denied allegations that the city's trust fund has been emptied.
According to him, the trust fund remains untouched and what they are presently using is the calamity fund provided by the National Government.
Treñas said correct information should be properly disseminated to avoid misleading the public.
