The mayor and vice mayor of Tobias Fornier town, Province of Antique figured in a squabble reportedly because of food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) up for distribution to residents affected severely by the El Niño phenomenon.

In a video footage, Tobias Fornier Vice Mayor Jose Maria Fournier was seen embarking on a truck and revving it up. 

Tobias Fornier Mayor Ernesto Tajanlangit III also got in the truck and wrestled for the key.

Afterwhich, the two officials went at the back of the truck where Fornier was seen in another video attempting to close the truck's door, and the mayor throwing a punch at him. 

“Pinagpasensyahan ko at nagpaliwanag ako na mahuhulog ang mga job order na naghahakot kung i-a-abante mo. And then, hanggang bumaba na kami at patuloy ang pagtatalo, hanggang sa tinamaan ako ng pintuan ng truck na balak nya isara. Doon na nagsimula ang lahat,” Tajanlangit pointed out.

The truck has at least 800 family food packs from DSWD. 

According to a statement posted by Fornier on his social media account, he requested the food packs from Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao for residents who have been affected severely by the ill effects of El Niño but who are not part of any social amelioration program of the government.

However, the vice mayor said, when the truck returned from the town of San Jose, it was flagged down reportedly by the mayor’s group in Barangay Balud, Tobias Fornier.

The news team tried to reach the vice mayor for an interview but is yet to receive a reply as of posting time.

Tajanlangit said the process in distribution of food packs to beneficiaries was not observed properly, thus the truck was barred.

Atty. Carmelo Nochete, DSWD 6 director, arrived in Tobias Fornier on April 30, 2024 to check on the incident.

Tajanlangit said he learned from Atty. Nochete that the release of the said food packs has no permission from the agency.

When the officials inspected the warehouse where the food packs were to be kept, they found out that around 1,000 food packs have already been stored. 

“Ang 1,000, indi ma-ipaliwanag ngayon kung papano nila na-ipasok at itinago sa bodega ng irrigators,” the mayor added.

Governor Cadiao refused the news team a recorded interview, but she clarified that she approved the release of the food packs.

She said she has the authority to do so being chairperson of the Antique Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Council. However, she said she only knew of 500 family food packs intended for Tobias Fornier.

Cadiao said she has entrusted the matter to the police.

Tajanlangit and Fornier both apologized for the alarm and scandal that the incident has caused to the public.