Bogo residents want probe on P20M for workers’ coop

Concerned residents of Bogo City have asked the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas to look into the controversy surrounding the release of over P20 million in government funds to the city employees’ cooperative a few weeks before the May elections.

In a letter sent to the anti-graft body, Antonio Balunan, Eliseo Tancawan, Jennifer Requiza and Anastacio Celera of barangays  Gairan, Taytayan and Pandan asked for an investigation into why then mayor Celestino “Tining” Martinez III issued a check to Bogo Municipal Employees Multipurpose Cooperative.

The P20-million check dated April 26, 2007, a copy of which was obtained by The Freeman, showed the signatures of Martinez and then municipal treasurer Rhett Minguez. The money was charged to the Bogo Municipal Treasurer trust fund.

“The circumstances, motive and intent behind the issuance of the said check are highly and very suspicious especially so that the same was issued days before the May 14, 2007 national and local elections and the amount of the check is very substantial,” the complainants said.

Based on the Land Bank deposit slip, the check was deposited to the account of Bogo Municipal Employees Multipurpose Cooperative a day after it was released.

“We respectfully request that a formal and extensive investigation be conducted to determine the validity and legality of the issuance and release of the check as well as on how the amount was used,” the letter request reads.

According to the complainants, the release of the amount could have been used to finance the candidacies of Martinez and his parents.

Martinez ran but lost to Benhur Salimbangon in the congressional race. His mother, former congresswoman Clavel Martinez, ran for vice governor but also lost. His father, however, won in the race for mayor of the city. — Fred P. Languido/LPM