CLO: Ombudsman ruling hails mayor’s diligence
THE consolidated resolution of the Ombudsman dismissing the complaints filed against Mayor Belen Fernandez and four other city officials was a recognition of their due diligence in protecting public funds against “unauthorized claims”.
This was the view of City Legal Officer Victoria Cabrera, commenting on the 18-page resolution of the Ombudsman on the complaints filed by contractors Alexander Romulo Siapno and Lovell Siapno who were claiming P12.4 million and P1.6 million for contracts they entered into with then Mayor Benjamin Lim.
Cabrera quoted a part of the dispositive portions of the Ombudsman’s consolidated resolution, thusly: “Verily, respondents’ action was not tainted with arbitrariness but rather proceeded from a position of diligence and caution in ensuring that all disbursements of public funds are duly supported with documents and in accordance with law.”
The other respondents of the case were City Treasurer Romelita Alcantara, City Accountant Teresita Manaois, Budget Officer Luz de Guzman and City Engineer Virginia Rosario.
The mayor and the four city officials were defended by former City Legal Officer George Mejia, now legal consultant of Mayor Fernandez.
Cabrera noted the Ombudsman’s ruling that the respondents did not violate any law in refusing to allow payment of Siapnos’ claims for LXS Builders & Supplies and GLI Enterprises, until the submission of the required documents.
They complained that despite several follow-ups, no payment was made by the respondents on several contracts they entered with the city government through then Mayor Lim.
More significant, she said, was the finding of the Anti-Graft body that the mayor and the city officials “did not compromise the integrity of the government or deprived it of a committed service, rather it protected the city government from questionable claims.”
Meanwhile, Mayor Fernandez decided not to use a building built in the past administration until it is determined that the still unidentified contractor will not file another claim even after the Commission on Audit gave the go-signal to city government to use it or to demolish it. (Leonardo Micua)
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