Did Rep. Gorriceta apply arm-twisting tactics on Sanitarium?

“Intervention only works when the people concerned seem to be keen for peace.” Nelson Mandela

By Alex P. Vidal

IT appears the feud between Iloilo second district Rep. Arcadio “Cadio” Gorriceta and officials of the Western Visayas Sanitarium (WVS) in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo developed only after one camp refused to follow the wishes of another camp over a WVS project implemented by the Department of Health (DOH).

Since a standoff is unacceptable, Gorriceta is now calling for the ouster of WVS chief, Dr. Annabelle de Guzman.

Gorriceta’s move, however, was viewed by some observers as an “arm-twisting tactic” only because he failed to get what he wanted.

As a member of the legislative branch, Gorriceta is supposed to enact laws, not to interfere in projects pushed by the executive branch.

By calling for De Guzman’s ouster only because she crossed his path, Gorriceta, a best friend of Senate President Franklin Drilon, is showing who's the boss; he could be guilty of influence peddling or “waslik poder.”

The Liberal Party congressman is flexing his political muscles.

TEACHERS

We were told since elementary days that the teachers are our second parents.

Therefore we should be kind to them; we should accord them the love and respect we give our parents.

We can forget the names of some of our relatives but not our teachers.

Gorriceta must have forgotten this fundamental ethos when he allegedly belittled the teachers by comparing them to officials of the WVS during the executive committee (EXECOM) of the WVS meeting in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo early this year.

The spat with the WVS officials occurred when Gorriceta reportedly pushed for his recommendation to change the orientation of the WVS’ P25-million hospital ward extension project when he barged inside the EXECOM meeting.

The Daily Guardian, which interviewed Gorriceta over Aksyon Radyo on Saturday, reported that the neophyte solon reminded the officials the extension project must take into consideration the P137-million Sta. Barbara-San Miguel access road project and the presence of an ongoing residential project.

When hospital officials did not accept the congressman’s suggestions, Gorriceta allegedly called them “close-minded and stubborn.”

The ward extension has been approved by the DOH central office and that WVS is just the implementer, asserted De Guzman.

INCIDENT

TGD reported October 13 that the EXECOM incident report also quoted Gorriceta as saying that the WVS officials are “like public school teachers who just follow all the whims and wishes of their superiors.”

“He further accused the EXECOM members of being afraid of ‘imperial Manila’,” the EXECOM resolution added.

Gorriceta admitted to TDG he may have said those words but explained the context of his statement saying, “I think I said that because they always refer everything to Manila.”

Gorriceta further told TDG he does not believe that his statement was insulting to the teachers as he observed that teachers are always hesitant to speak up on their needs before their superiors.

“They are always overwhelmed by their officials. That’s also the same impression I got from the WVS officials. They kept on saying that it’s with Manila already. What kind of justification is that? Just because Manila said that the rear part of the hospital ward will face the main road, you will just follow it?” said Gorriceta as quoted by TDG.

The congressman further told TDG the incident report is dubious and self-serving on the part of the hospital.