Ombudsman suspends Negros mayor, 8 city executives

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman has suspended a city mayor of Negros Occidental and eight other officials over the purchase of diesel fuel without public bidding in 2007.

In its Jan. 9 ruling, the ombudsman said Silay City Mayor Jose Montelibano, administrator Ignacio Sal-Zccccvcmingo and bids and awards committee members Kara Aimee Quevenco and Ricardo Ledesma Jr., Pepito Hechanova, Alma dela Cruz, Sonia Cordero, Elsie Jimenea and Oliva dela Cruz were liable for their involvement in the transaction.

Montelibano, Quevenco and Ledesma were suspended for three months without pay.

Salmingo was suspended for two months without pay while Hechanova, Cordero, Jimenea, Alma and Oliva were suspended for one month without pay.

Since Ledesma has retired, his suspension will be converted to a fine equivalent to his salary for three months and deducted from his retirement benefits.

Jose Lindy Chan Jr.  filed the complaint against the city officials over the purchase of 3,000 liters of diesel fuel on Aug. 15, 2007 for P113,490; 20,000 liters for P756,600 on Aug. 17, 2007; and 20,000 liters for P796,600 on Nov. 7, 2007.

The city government could not procure diesel fuel through direct contracting, the ombudsman ruling stated.

The ombudsman said Montelibano and the other respondents could only be held liable for simple misconduct “since it does not appear that the respondents intended to violate the law or to flagrantly disregard established rules and procedures.”

Montelibano has appealed the ombudsman ruling, saying the case was rendered moot with his reelection.