2 complaints vs ex-Bacolod mayor, 23 others junked

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed two complaints – criminal and administrative – filed against Bacolod Rep. Evelio Leonardia when he was still the city mayor, and 23 other City Hall officials and employees. 

Dismissed last month were the complaints filed against Leonardia and the 23 others by Sarah Teresa Esguerra and Othello Ramos, known allies of Mayor Monico Puentevella, according to a press statement of the Leonardia camp on Wednesday.

Among those also cleared by the Ombudsman were Leonardia’s department heads, namely city treasurer Annabelle Badajos, city accountant Eduardo Ravena, former city legal officer Allan Zamora, secretary to the mayor Rogelio Balo, and Teresita Guadalupe of the Office of the Building Official (OBO). 

The complaints stemmed from the temporary retention and use of the 20 percent share of the national government in the OBO’s collections to pay for the honoraria of certain city officials and employees who were assisting the understaffed office.

“(The) records are bereft of any evidence showing that respondents had acted with manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence causing undue injury or unwarranted benefits under the prevailing circumstances,” the Ombudsman’s resolution read.