Bayan Muna files criminal, admin charges vs. governor
Party-list group Bayan Muna has filed criminal and administrative charges against Governor Gwendolyn Garcia over her alleged refusal to make a “public liquidation” of the expenses in the construction of the
Arman Perez, the
Perez urged deputy ombudsman Pelagio Apostol to immediately act on his complaint, saying that he was filing the case on behalf of the Cebuano taxpayers.
Capitol consultant Rory John Sepulveda said they have yet to receive a copy of the complaint. Sepulveda, however, said the records pertaining to the construction of the CICC are available at the Capitol for anybody who wants to see.
Sepulveda said anybody interested to see the accounting can make a formal request so authenticated copies of the documents will be given to him.
Sepulveda said the governor has already given the accounting of the expenses of the CICC long ago, adding that it was even published in the newspapers.
He explained that even the Commission on Audit has found no irregularity in the disbursement of funds in the CICC construction.
“They are chasing shadows,” Sepulveda said of Perez’s group in their complaint against the governor.
Sepulveda explained that even if there is no law that requires public accounting, the provincial government did it. He said what is required by law is only accessibility to public documents.
“I don’t know what he (Perez) is up to and on what legal basis nga kinahanglan mi nga mo publicly account. Ang among obligasyon ra g’yud is to make sure nga transparent ang mga aksiyon sa gobernador and transparency is being respected at the Capitol. If he needs a copy he can ask one,” Sepulveda said.
He, in return, demanded public accounting from Perez on how the government funds from their representatives in Congress were spent since said he said he received several reports that the pork barrel of Bayan Muna’s representatives was being misappropriated.
“Request lang pod sa Bayan Muna to also publicly account the amount they receive from the Philippine government. Ang Bayan Muna dugay na man mo diha sa Congress. Palihug lang pod bi pasabta lang pod mi mga taxpayers man pod mi asa man na paingon inyong pork barrel,” Sepulveda said.
Sepulveda said as a taxpayer, he also has the right to demand for public accounting from Bayan Muna.
In his complaint at the Ombudsman, Perez alleged that they have already requested the Ombudsman twice to issue subpoena duces tecum against Capitol officials but got no reply until now.
He claimed that the passage of time fuels the public clamor for transparency and accountability of public officials. — Fred P. Languido/LPM
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