By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

In response to the issues recently raised by a certain “Norma” on Ben Tulfo’s “Bitag Sumbungan ng Bayan,” where she claimed talent fees were not paid for the “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano cast vs. Artistahing Bacoleños” basketball event, which took place on October 26 at the University of Saint La Salle Coliseum, Bacolod City Councilor Al Victor Espino, during a press conference yesterday with Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) deputy director for administration, Police Lt. Colonel Levy Pangue, said he is under no obligation to pay the organizer.
“How do you pay something that does not exist?” the city official asked. “What obligation do we have from them?”
Espino said they already distributed the remaining balance from the game tickets.
Meanwhile, Pangue confirmed the city government had nothing to do with the event nor was it an event of the MassKara Festival, which was underway at the time. He noted, the event came about after meeting with Rory Lumba, who proposed holding a basketball event with the BCPO as the beneficiary.
He noted, Lumba proposed the BCPO sell tickets with 30 percent of ticket sale proceeds going towards the implementation of the police department’s projects and programs, along with requesting the local police department to shoulder the costs for accommodations, venue, and meals for guests.
Aside from that, Pangue said they did not discuss talent fees for the “Ang Probinsyano” cast.
The law enforcement official said he sought assistance from Espino as he chairs the Sangguniang Panlungsod Peace and Order Committee.
“The BCPO did not even get a 30 percent share from ticket sales because about 50 percent of the tickets were not sold during the event,” Pangue added./DGB, WDJ