‘Agtrabaho tayo latta… but we also follow rules and procedures… maawatan koma met ti kakailyan dayta,’ – Vice Gov. Odiem responding to allegations he refused to sign checks

Tabuk City, Kalinga - Vice-Governor Dave Odiem responded to the issue thrown at him alleging he is refusing to sign checks which has caused delays in the completion of some transactions at the Kalinga provincial capitol, explaining there are rules and procedures and that he cannot just sign without having his specimen signature at the banks first.

Odiem said, in an interview, that he is more than willing to sign those checks, but if underscored, he cannot bypass the process.

“……haan ko kanu sign-an dagiti checks. Dagitoy met nga checks, hanku metlang mabalin nga sign-an dagitoy nu awan ti signature specimen idyay bangko. Ta dagitoy, sign-an pay ti bangko, agsubli metlang ta awan garud specimen. Umun-una pay idyay bangko,” he added, saying “Agtrabaho tayo latta. I-accommodate tayo met dagiti kakailyan. But we have to follow rules and procedures… maawatan koma met ti kakilyan dayta. Maysa pay… I give time uray nu ado ti trabtrabahuen tayo ta saan lang met nga agpirma ti checke…. saan lang met nga session. Ado ti atendaran nga meetings ken public discussions para iti pagsayaatan ti probinsiya.”

The statement of Odiem on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, came after anonymous posts, now deleted, claimed the Vice-Governor is making it hard for people to transact as he is delaying signing of some checks. Apart from this, Odiem said he read that another post was alleging he was always absent.

“Agdamag kayo lang apo nu saan dak makita idiay office, the secretary will inform nu anya nga meeting wennu conference iti napanan tayo,” said the Vice-Governor, relating that he was not in his office some days last week and the other week because of various important national and regional events and activities he was obligated to attend.  

Some of these events included the First Executive Meeting of the League of Vice Governors of the Philippines held on July 19 at the Manila Hotel; the Sectoral Consultation and Planning Workshop on July 24–25 in Morong, Bataan; Provincial Nutrition Month; and the recent SONA of President Ferdinand Marcos, among others. 

Odiem, during the interview, said he wanted to just shrug it off, but he has to answer because the people might believe these baseless allegations.  

“Nu haan ta gamin nga i-confront ket ti arig na kasla agpaypaysu ket kasla mamatin ti dadduma. Isunga maikkat kuma dayta nga Kalinga Page. Nu mabalbalin ket i-block tayo dayta,” he said.

Following the issue, Odiem urged his constituents to avoid posting fake news online or sharing thoughts online without consulting the person involved.  

“We see to it kuma nga before da ag-post ket damagen da kuma ah diyay tao—i-approach da pay kuma before da i-Kalinga Page ta dagita ket libelous met amin dagita. Apan da piman ikal-Kalinga Page datao without consulting diyay tao. Isu ngarud nga awan diyay essence of due process, haan nga reliable nga page dayta,” the Vice-Governor concluded.