Ombuds asked to investigate councilor’s trip to Paris, France

CEBU, Philippines - A concerned citizen of Barangay Sawang Calero, Cebu City has asked the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate Councilor Richard Osmeña for allegedly misusing public funds amounting to P349,729 for his attendance in a disaster-related forum in Paris, France.

The unnamed complainant alleged that the use of the city calamity funds to finance the foreign travel for the forum was "improper and anomalous."

The Office of the Ombudsman received the complaint last June 22.

Sought for comment, Osmeña said he welcomes the investigation if it would be "above board."

"The trip was approved by DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) and authorized by the mayor (Michael Rama)," he said.

Osmeña questioned the anonymity of the complainant, saying his identity should be known if he is really concerned about government spending.

"If concerned gyud siya why is she/he ano-nymous? Four of us attended the summit. Why am I also being singled out?" he said.

Osmeña said he has yet to refund almost half of the unspent amount, adding that if DILG will rule that the trip was "improper and anomalous," he is willing to refund the whole amount.

The unnamed complainant was referring to the forum on "Climate Resilience and Disaster Risk Management in Asian Cities" which was part of the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) on November 30 to December 11, 2015.

COP21 refers to the countries that signed the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The whole advocacy was about reducing the world's carbon gas emissions caused by, among others, coal-fired power plants. In effect, the forum advocated against the construction of coal-fired plants.

Along with Osmeña, Councilors David Tumulak and Hanz Abella's trip to Paris was also charged against the calamity funds.

Rama was also with the councilors, but his expenses were shouldered by the organizers.

The city granted cash advances to Rama amounting to P298,000; while P299,000 was given to Tumulak; P349,000 for Abella; and P349,000 for Osmeña.

Citing the implementing rules and regulations on the use of the local calamity fund, the complainant averred that such fund can only be used in areas affected by disasters as determined by the local council.

"The said expense for foreign travel did not involve a calamity that hit Cebu City. Neither did the Cebu City Council pass legislation that declared a state of calamity. The misuse of calamity funds is ironically the calamity that hit us, Cebuanos," he stated.

He noted that the forum discussed climate change and reduction of emissions of harmful gases from coal-fired plants.

"It is just ironic that after arriving from the forum, Osmeña sponsored a resolution endorsing the construction of a coal-fired plant at the old Ludo plant compound in the thickly populated area of Sawang Calero. In effect, the climate change forum was misrepresented to support the request for funding of foreign tra-vel," he lamented.

"This action shows he has not learned anything from the forum he supposed to have attended in Paris. This only means he wasted Cebu City calamity funds in a mere junket," he added.

He said Osmeña has yet to finish his liquidation for the travel expenses, believing that this is because the councilor cannot provide the proper receipts to justify his actual expenses.  (FREEMAN)