Puentevella disproves Sayson’s claim on plunder charges

CEBU, Philippines - Former Bacolod Representative Monico Puentevella disproved the claims of Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson that no plunder case was ever filed against the latter.

In a forum for Bacolod mayoralty candidates over ABS-CBN Bacolod last Friday, Sayson said he was never sued for plunder.

Puentevella, a three-term congressman, was quick to correct him by presenting a copy of Ombudsman documents that charged Sayson and other city executives for plunder on April 21, 2010 in connection with the alleged overpricing of a property.

The cases, docketed as OMB-V-C-10-0085-C and OMB-V-A-10-0104-A for criminal and administrative complaints, respectively, were filed by Sarah Teresa Esguerra of Barangay 12, Bacolod City.

Based on the complaint, the city government reportedly acquired the Arao property for more than P124.3 million for the Vista Alegre-Granada relocation when its aggregate value, based on records of the City Assessor’s Office, is only P8.8 million as of January 21, 2010.

Sayson, when asked by Jay Jalandoni, co-host of  ABS-CBN’s “Ihayag: The Halalan 2013 Candidates’ Forum,” how he will answer the plunder charges, vehemently denied that a plunder case had been filed against him or any of his councilors.

“I would like to correct that no plunder (case) has been filed against Vice Mayor Sayson. Never. No plunder case had ever been filed against me or my…what we call this…my councilors,” Sayson told Jalandoni.

But Puentevella said Sayson and his co-accused submitted their manifestation to the Ombudsman, through their counsel, Joselito Bayatan, and their position paper related to the overpriced property acquisition last April 26, 2012.

The case is awaiting the Ombudsman’s resolution, he said.

“I want to correct the Vice Mayor that he has been named one of the respondents to a plunder case…I can give this copy to him showing that he was a co-accused. Let’s just be honest to the public,” Puentevella said.

Meanwhile, in the same forum, Puentevella stressed that while his critics and rival lodged a complaint against him on the staging of the Southeast Asian Games in Bacolod, as well as for the fertilizer scam, he has not received summons to appear in any court.

They are resurrecting their so-called issues every election season because they have no legitimate issues against me, Puentevella said.

“In my three years as Bacolod councilor, six years as Philippine Sports Commissioner and nine years as congressman, I have never had a single day of being summoned in any court of law,” Puentevella stressed.

Puentevella renewed his campaign for a “Better Bacolod” and outlined his party’s priorities, particularly in addressing issues on medical and health service delivery to indigents, uncollected garbage, traffic and flood problems. (FREEMAN)