Ombudsman to Bacolod mayor: Answer malversation raps

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella to answer within 10 days a complaint for alleged malversation of P50.5 million earmarked for the Bacolod Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (BASOC).

In a two-page order dated Sept. 12, a copy of which was released on Thursday, acting Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Rodolfo Elman said there is “enough basis” to proceed with the criminal investigation of the case.

The complaint was filed against Puentevella by Samuel Montoyo of Save Bacolod Movement when he was still congressman and chairman of the BASOC in November 2005.

Bacolod co-hosted the Southeast Asian Games in 2005.

In his complaint-affidavit submitted to Bacolod Assistant City Prosecutor Maria Mercedes Odango-Saril on May 7, Montoyo said four government checks amounting to P50.5 million were issued to Puentevella in 2005 as chairman of BASOC. 

The checks were for P10.5 million from Land Bank of the Philippines issued on July 28, 2005; P20 million from LBP on Aug. 12, 2005; P10 million from the Philippine National Bank on Aug. 26, 2005; and P10 million from LBP on Nov. 18, 2005.

The complaint stated that the checks, which should have been deposited in the account of BASOC or with any public depository account, were deposited to Puentebella’s personal account with the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.-Bacolod Shopping Branch.

Puentebella has failed to account for the checks despite two demand letters issued by the Commission on Audit, the complaint said.

Puentevella’s executive assistant Sara Esguerra said Montoyo only wanted to “harass” the mayor.