Ombuds reviewing report vs. Talisay mayor

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman Visayas is now reviewing the evaluation report of the complaint against Talisay City Mayor Socrates “Soc” Fernandez for allegedly allowing the use of a government vehicle without a trip ticket last September 13, 2010.

The spokeswoman of the Ombudsman Virginia Palanca-Santiago said the investigator has already finished the evaluation report for the complaints against Fernandez and it is now under review.

“It’s so hard to investigate if the allegations against Soc are true because here, we have a no-contact policy with the respondents,” Santiago said.

The vehicle in question was a Toyota Revo used by the controversial adopted son of Fernandez, Joavan Fernandez, and his companions.

Fernandez claimed that there were no need for a trip ticket since the vehicle was assigned to him. But Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol said anyone who uses a government vehicle must have a trip ticket.

“Whoever uses the government vehicle and is allowed by the mayor should bring along with him the trip ticket,” Apostol said.

Fernandez was included in the investigation by the Ombudsman after the Talisay City-owned Revo was stopped by the police and its driver Benedict Gabasa, an associate of Joavan, was arrested for driving without a license.

The Revo was earlier spotted at Mango Square Mall along Gen. Maxilom Ave. in Cebu City, where Joavan allegedly had an altercation with a mall guard, before it was stopped by the police in Barangay Bulacao Pardo.

Fernandez presumed that Gabasa stopped by Mango Square Mall to have snacks as the vehicle was reportedly used for Talisay City’s feeding program headed by Joavan.

The Ombudsman conducted a fact-finding investigation on the case after they received the results of a separate inquiry conducted by the Department of Interior and Local Government-7. (FREEMAN NEWS)