In an order dated Nov. 14, Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora directed the local chief executive to submit to the Department of Interior and Local Government his reply to the complaint of Armando Ronda.
Marquez was told to make his reply, with a stern warning not to file a motion to dismiss, within 15 days upon receipt of the Malacañang order.
He was charged criminally and administratively with graft and corruption, malversation, dishonesty, willful neglect of duty, gross misconduct, inefficiency and incompetence in the performance of official duties and conduct highly prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
Ronda filed the complaint against the comedian-mayor, city treasurer Silvestre de Leon, assistant treasurer Liberato Carabeo, citing 1998 findings of the Commission on Audit.
COA discovered that the city government had posted cash overdrafts of P197.8 million.
The huge overdrafts spurred then Parañaque COA-resident auditor Zoroaster Libozada to advise the city government to adopt belt-tightening measures until finances stabilize.
The report also bared that P220 million in trust liabilities under the General Fund and Special Education Fund were also not remitted to the proper government agencies.
The local officials were also accused of failing to notify the local COA office of the bidding for the renovation of the city mayor’s office in 1998 and providing a copy of the P6 million contract for the project.
The COA report likewise raised doubts on the use of P37 million of the Local School Board Fund to pay the salaries and wages of non-teaching personnel, medical insurance of teachers, honoraria of local officials, employees and other expenses in violation of the 1991 Local Government Code.
The Local Government Code provides that the Local School Board Fund should only be used for infrastructure development and construction of school buildings.
The STAR tried but failed to contact Marquez yesterday. City administrator Lito Abad, who answered this writer’s call, said the mayor is on vacation in the US.