This was how Delegate Kalistus Ngirturong described the recent trip of President Toribiong and some members of his government to the Philippines as he defended it against charges that the trip was a waste of taxpayers’ dollars.
In a phone interview, Ngirturong appeared surprised that their recent trip to the Philippines was branded as a junket by some editorial writers.
“Why are they branding it as a junket this time when we attend such conference every year?” he asked.
According to him, a 20-person delegation from Palau comprising members of the Senate, House of Delegates, government entities board members, state legislators and others from the Palau government attended the conference. The conference he was referring was the annual regional investment conference held at the New World Hotel in Makati from October 14-15.
“Last year, the delegation that attended the Manila conference was even much bigger, but our trip was not questioned,” he pointed out.
He said that instead of criticizing the trip, it is better for people to praise them for embarking on such mission.
“We met many important investors and people there. We learned a lot of things about investments and the like, and those were important knowledge that we could bring and share here,” he said.
Meanwhile, asked for his comment on the issue, Press Secretary Fermin Meriang also denied that the president was on junket when he went to the Philippines.
“The President and First Lady Valeria went there separately for a medical check-up and not for a junket,” he declared.
Pres. Toribiong, according to him, was in the Philippines from October 10 to 16 for a medical check-up at a hospital in Manila.
“It is an annual trip for the President. Even before he became president, he has been going to the Philippines for check-ups, and it is not surprising that he went there again for such purpose,” he pointed out.
“The insinuation of a junket and lavish, unnecessary spending of people’s money is simply unfounded,” he added.
To recall, some editorial writers have questioned the trip, saying it was unnecessary wastage of taxpayers’ money when the nation is experiencing a budget shortfall of more than $ 10 million, which forced it to cut spending for programs and social services this fiscal year.
It was estimated that the trip costed taxpayers over $ 50, 000.
Aside from the Pres. Toribiong, his wife and Delegate Ngirturong, also on that trip were (board of trustees of various entities): PCC- Bilung Gloria Salii, Masa-Aki Emesiochel, Dr. Emais Robert and Michelle Ueda; SS- Marino Bells, Francis Meyar, Sekang Shmull; PENSION PLAN- William Ngiraikelau, Felix Okabe, Kyoko April and Presley Etibek; and PPUC- Francisco Sungino.
Those from the national government included Foreign Affairs Officer Ngerikl Baules, Presidential Assistant Wilfred Williams, and Police Security Tant Nabeyama and those from OEK are: Delegates- Secilil Eldebechel and Swenny Ongidoble; Senators- Hokkons Baules, Regis Akitaya and Mlib Tmetuchl.
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Palau-junket10-26
Trip to RP was no junket — Delegate Ngirturong
By Jose Rodriguez T. Señase
For Variety
KOROR (Palau Horizon) — “We went there to attend an important conference, and not to engage in a junket.”
This was how Delegate Kalistus Ngirturong described the recent trip of President Toribiong and some members of his government to the Philippines as he defended it against charges that the trip was a waste of taxpayers’ dollars.
In a phone interview, Ngirturong appeared surprised that their recent trip to the Philippines was branded as a junket by some editorial writers.
“Why are they branding it as a junket this time when we attend such conference every year?” he asked.
According to him, a 20-person delegation from Palau comprising members of the Senate, House of Delegates, government entities board members, state legislators and others from the Palau government attended the conference. The conference he was referring was the annual regional investment conference held at the New World Hotel in Makati from October 14-15.
“Last year, the delegation that attended the Manila conference was even much bigger, but our trip was not questioned,” he pointed out.
He said that instead of criticizing the trip, it is better for people to praise them for embarking on such mission.
“We met many important investors and people there. We learned a lot of things about investments and the like, and those were important knowledge that we could bring and share here,” he said.
Meanwhile, asked for his comment on the issue, Press Secretary Fermin Meriang also denied that the president was on junket when he went to the Philippines.
“The President and First Lady Valeria went there separately for a medical check-up and not for a junket,” he declared.
Pres. Toribiong, according to him, was in the Philippines from October 10 to 16 for a medical check-up at a hospital in Manila.
“It is an annual trip for the President. Even before he became president, he has been going to the Philippines for check-ups, and it is not surprising that he went there again for such purpose,” he pointed out.
“The insinuation of a junket and lavish, unnecessary spending of people’s money is simply unfounded,” he added.
To recall, some editorial writers have questioned the trip, saying it was unnecessary wastage of taxpayers’ money when the nation is experiencing a budget shortfall of more than $ 10 million, which forced it to cut spending for programs and social services this fiscal year.
It was estimated that the trip costed taxpayers over $ 50, 000.
Aside from the Pres. Toribiong, his wife and Delegate Ngirturong, also on that trip were (board of trustees of various entities): PCC- Bilung Gloria Salii, Masa-Aki Emesiochel, Dr. Emais Robert and Michelle Ueda; SS- Marino Bells, Francis Meyar, Sekang Shmull; PENSION PLAN- William Ngiraikelau, Felix Okabe, Kyoko April and Presley Etibek; and PPUC- Francisco Sungino.
Those from the national government included Foreign Affairs Officer Ngerikl Baules, Presidential Assistant Wilfred Williams, and Police Security Tant Nabeyama and those from OEK are: Delegates- Secilil Eldebechel and Swenny Ongidoble; Senators- Hokkons Baules, Regis Akitaya and Mlib Tmetuchl.
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