The spokesperson of IloiloMayor Raisa Treñas has maintained that a service vehicle was previously offered to City Councilor Sheen Marie Mabilog, contrary to the councilor’s claim that no official vehicle had been assigned to her office.

In a statement, Mayor Treñas’ spokesperson Joy Fantilaga-Gorzal said a Mitsubishi Strada pickup bearing plate number SFA 2447 had been offered to Mabilog when she assumed office last year.

According to Fantilaga-Gorzal, the vehicle was previously issued to then-City Councilor and now Vice Mayor Lady Julie Grace Baronda and had also been used by former councilor Nick Baronda.

She said Mabilog allegedly declined the vehicle at the time, saying she did not need it.

Gorzal further explained that the vehicle remains under the accountability of personnel from the Office of the Vice Mayor, with its Property Accountability Receipt (PAR) yet to be updated.

She added that because Mabilog has no assigned service vehicle, she continues to receive her full Representation and Transportation Allowance (RATA).

Under existing government rules, Fantilaga-Gorzal said officials cannot simultaneously enjoy the full RATA and an assigned service vehicle. Officials must either use a government vehicle with a corresponding reduction in transportation allowance or receive the full RATA without an assigned vehicle.

Mabilog, however, firmly disputed the claim, insisting that she was never formally offered a service vehicle by the Iloilo City Government.

“I hope she names the specific date, occasion, and where I was allegedly offered a service vehicle because, again, I do not recall that happening and no such offer was made to me,” Mabilog said.

The councilor added that she would have accepted the vehicle had one been made available to her.

She also reiterated her earlier assertion that she has not been treated fairly since assuming office.

The issue resurfaced after Mabilog disclosed that she had borrowed a vehicle from the Office of the Vice Mayor to attend several official activities last Sunday.

The differing accounts have drawn attention to the city government’s policies on the assignment of official vehicles and the entitlement of elected officials to transportation allowances.IMT