Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco, Jr. on Monday said that government officials, both elected and appointed, need not be awarded for their work in government.

Evasco’s statement came after he refused to be honored as among the Ten Outstanding Boholanos Across the World (TOBAW), a triennial recognition accorded to Boholanos deemed to be exemplary in their field of endeavors.

“Ang gobyerno dili tagaan og award. Kay ngano, pag take oath niya, pag hural niya, pag sumpa niya—apil na diha ang mga elected gikan sa presidente hangtud na sa barangay officials ug apil pod ng gitawag nga appointed sa gobyerno—ila mang gi-ingon nga ‘ako mo-trabaho gamiton nako ang akong kapasidad ug kahibalo para sa pag-protektar sa interes sa tawo’,” said Evasco.

Government officials’ salaries are paid for by taxpayers’ money making it unnecessary for them to be given awards, he added.

The Cabinet secretary also denied allegations that he refused to accept the TOBAW award to shame Rep. Rene Relampagos who was also accorded the award this year.

“Dili man to paka-uwaw. Ang ako lang, nisulti lang ko’s tinood kay kung sensitive pa ka nga naa ka’s gobyerno ug mahinuklugon ka sa imong pagpanarbaho, mo-ingon man jud ka nga dili nalang ka, nga dili nalang nako ni dawaton [award],” said Evasco.

He noted that he respected Relampagos’ receipt of the award.

Evasco also thanked TOBAW organizers for considering him to be among recipients of the award.

He said that the TOBAW recognition should be encouragement for the youth to excel in their respective fields when they become professionals and working members of society. (A. Doydora)