San Fernando mayor denies having unliquidated funds, cash advances

CEBU, Philippines - Reelectionist San Fernando Mayor Lakambini "Neneth" Reluya yesterday refuted reports that she has unliquidated intelligence funds (IF) and other cash advances in 2008, saying she has already submitted a total liquidation to the Commission on Audit last year.

Reluya's denial came after her biggest rival in the May 10 polls – former Mayor and incumbent Vice Mayor Antonio Canoy – showed documents to media showing her alleged unliquidated P2,273,185.01 in cash advances of her administration in 2008, as per the COA annual report.

Celerino Bolo, the town's budget officer, explained that the entire amount was not solely used by the office of Reluya, hence she is not liable to liquidate all of it. Also, in 2008, Reluya said she had no Intelligence Fund then, as the town council, through its presiding officer Canoy, had decided not to give her that. It was only last year, after the Provincial Board intervened, that she started receiving her share of the IF, which was in two tranches: P300,000 and P250,000. But these amounts, she said, were already liquidated and that documents have already been forwarded to the COA central office in Manila.

“It's not even an issue. I don't know why they are making a fuss out of it. I am confident. Sila ang angay makulbaan kay hangtud karon wap-a nila na-liquidate ang ilang P800,000 cash advances last 2006 pa,” said the mayor.

The camp of Canoy also claimed that Reluya has been providing the newly appointed Councilor Ramulfo Sasuman his honorarium since July last year despite the fact that he has not yet assumed office after Canoy's group had repeatedly stopped him.

For her part, Reluya explained she was only following orders from the province which recognized Sasuman as a new member of the council. But right after Sasuman had lodged a formal administrative and criminal complaint against Canoy and the rest of the council members to the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas she has also stopped giving him his honorarium.

Meanwhile, Reluya revealed to the media that the COA has already sent Canoy a notice of suspension for the alleged anomalous transaction during his time as mayor where he allegedly bought two heavy equipment for P4,400,000, which were allegedly overpriced. Since she assumed office in 2007, Reluya has been filing cases and cases against her predecessor for "numerous" irregularities in the town hall in his nine-year stint, from overpriced trash bins to unnecessary travels which allegedly the council members were fond of without liquidating the expenses.

"Sila ang dapat makahadlok kay daghan sila og anomaliya. Ug tanan ana naay mga documents that will prove nga ila nang gibuhat," the mayor said.