"..ATINGKOOP'S SEAT IN CONGRESS HAS NOT BEEN VACATED, AS ATTY. ISIDRO Q. LICO IS LEGALLY OCCUPYING IT..."

(Earlier, we wrote of the leadership "intramurals" during the Christmas holidays that beset ATINGKOOP Party List.  It was reported in the newspapers that Rep. Isidro Q. Lico had been expelled and replaced by a second nominee.

Now here comes another news report on the subject.  For purposes of balance reporting, and for lack of direct communications with the "protagonists", we decided to reprint this news item by Wendell Vigilia, as reported  in the Jan. 6, 2012 issue of the Malaya Business Insight):


"TERM-SHARING RIFT ALSO HITS PARTY-LIST"

..."ATING Koop (Adhikaing Tinataguyod ng Kooperatiba) party-list group Rep. Isidro Lico continued to defy party officials' moves to replace him based on a term-sharing agreement with another nominee, saying his group has been reorganized after questionable transactions of some members in the use of their P15-million pork barrel were uncovered.

Lico, in a press statement, said former Marikina Rep. Romeo Candazo has been replaced as Ating Koop secretary general after he and some people failed to explain the unauthorized transfer of P15 million in congressional development funds in support of Ating Koop projects.

Lico said he tried to prevent an "intra-party conflict" by convening the contral committee last Dec. 19 (2011), wherein it was agreed that the party-list would be reorganized and a new 15-member leadership elected.

He said those who failed to be reelected launched a "smear campaign" to make it appear that he is being replaced as their representative.

"They were that desperate since we were really determined to weed out undersirable officers and members to ensure the integrity of the party,"  Lico said.

Lico alleged that his reported expulsion was the handiwork of eight former members of the central committee who are in Luzon.

He said he has also reorganized his congressional staff after finding out that "ghost consultants" were hired using his forged signature.

Lico also released Ating Koop's official communication to Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr., informing him that "AK's seat in Congress has not been vacated, as Atty. Lico is legally occupying it, having been recognized (by) the Comelec and the House as its official repesentative until June 30, 2013."

In a December 15 letter to Belmonte, Candazo informed the House that the central committee of the nationwide cooperatives movement has replaced Lico with Roberto Mascarina, its second nominee.

Candazo's group wanted to remove Lico for allegedly failing to comply with the unanimous decision of the central committee directing him to "uphold the validity, legality and binding effect of the (term-sharing) agreement." -Wendell Vigilia.

(My note:  So, there.  It's up to the readers to appreciate the two reports.  Other cooperatives, who also supported ATING KOOP in the last election, deserve to hear both sides of the issues. END).