THE INTERNAL dispute within the Bacolod City Council over the proposed fraud and forensic audit of the city’s multibillion-peso loans and unfinished projects has reverberated far beyond the session hall.
The controversy has now spilled into the wider community, prompting religious and civil society groups to intervene in the increasingly heated loan brouhaha.
On November 6, a coalition of 21 groups, collectively known as the Joint Civil Society Coalition (JCSC), issued an open letter to city officials and the Commission on Audit (COA), demanding a special audit of loans incurred during the administrations of former mayors Bing Leonardia and Albee Benitez.
Why?
Because, as they themselves declared, they are deeply alarmed.
Bing remains relaxed, apparently confident that he has nothing to worry about. Albee, on the other hand, has been neither seen nor heard from concerning the coalition’s open letter.
THE SIGNATORIES
The coalition’s member organizations and signatories include:
* Most Reverend Gerardo Alminaza – Bishop, Diocese of San Carlos; representative, REpower Negros
* Rafael “Lito” Coscolluela – former governor of Negros Occidental; founding president, Paghimud-os Negros, Inc.
* Reverend Father Julius Espinosa – director, Caritas Bacolod Social Action Foundation, Inc., Diocese of Bacolod
* Reverend Father Chris Gonzales – parish priest, Triumph of the Holy Cross Parish, Barangay Estefania, Bacolod City
* Reverend Father Anecito “Mao” Buenafe – parish priest, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Barangay Bata, Bacolod City
* Reverend Father Armando “Arman” Onion – parish priest, St. Joseph Husband of Mary Parish, Henrietta Village, Barangay Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City
* Jun Posadas – Freedom from Debt Coalition-Negros
* Ted Lopez – Alter Trade Foundation, Inc.
* Gualberto Dajao – Negros Organic Agriculture Movement
* Kevin Gaitan – executive director, Negrosanon Young Leaders Institute (NYLI)
* Edwin Balajadia – Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement-Negros
* Priscilla “Inday” Goco – Partido ng Manggagawa
* Lulu Tison – Paghili-uss sa Paghidaet Negros
* Joy Jarabelo – Federation of Urban Poor-Negros (FedUp)
* Margie Janiva – United Facilities for Education Support
* Carl Villa – Dakila-Bacolod
* Corazon Aghon – Women’s Day Off Negros
* Gil Portillo – Kaisahan-Negros
* Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment (NICE)
* Akbayan Youth
* SocFem Bacolod
Earlier, on October 30, anti-graft crusader John Chiong, founder and president of Task Force Kasanag (TFK), also asked COA Chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba to conduct a forensic audit of the city’s loans and the unfinished legislative building being constructed by the controversial Legacy Construction Corporation, owned by Alex Abelido.
Indeed, these are no ordinary personalities. Credentials-wise, they command respect. Bishop Alminaza and former governor Coscolluela, in particular, carry considerable moral and public influence. They certainly have the stature to lead the coalition.
Reverend Fathers Julius, Mao, Chris and Arman lend additional moral weight to the campaign.
The other signatories provide formidable support.
But will COA heed their collective call?
THEIR DEMANDS
In their four-page letter, the coalition demanded that COA investigate the P1.7-billion loan obtained under the Leonardia administration, the P4.171-billion loan incurred during Benitez’s term, and an additional P2.1-billion service contract.
The groups also called for the immediate online publication of all signed loan contracts, repayment schedules, bank covenants and long-term service agreements in formats that the public can easily access, read and scrutinize.
They further demanded a freeze on additional loan disbursements pending the completion of COA’s audit and a reevaluation of the projects already implemented.
Beyond the multibillion-peso bank loans intended to finance various development projects, the coalition also wants to uncover the details of the P2.1-billion, 10-year agreement between the city government and High Data Infrastructure, Inc. (High Data) for the “Bacolod Super City” project.
But why?
Although some city councilors insist that the High Data contract is a Build-Transfer-Maintain (BTM) arrangement under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), rather than a loan, the coalition remains alarmed by the financial implications.
Under the agreement, the city is supposed to pay P125 million in 2025, followed by P200 million annually over the succeeding nine years.
To recall, the P2.1-billion contract with High Data seeks to establish smart communications infrastructure and a command center as part of the ambitious Bacolod Super City initiative.
Clearly, the coalition wants more than a superficial examination. It wants investigators to dig deeper into the city’s financial commitments and determine exactly where the money went, how it was spent and who benefited.
Can the investigation reach rock bottom?
THEIR CONTENTIONS
The coalition’s signatories stressed that they are taking this stand not merely as leaders of civil society organizations, faith communities and professional associations. More importantly, they are speaking as deeply concerned taxpayers and residents who care about Bacolod and the welfare of its people. They pointed out that the city government has allocated P560 million in next year’s budget solely for loan principal and interest payments. That amount, the coalition noted, is substantial enough to finance the operations of an entire municipality — perhaps even two.
It then posed a compelling question:
“By locking up annual funds for the decade-long contract deals, how will this burden benefit the people of Bacolod?”
THEIR REMINDERS
The coalition reminded city officials that when billions of pesos are committed to public works and burdensome long-term contracts, it is often low-income families, informal settlers, public transport drivers, vendors and small business owners who ultimately bear the consequences.
Worse, future generations — who had no voice in these financial decisions — could inherit the burden of debt servicing that consumes a substantial portion of city revenues.
These obligations, the coalition warned, could divert precious funds from public health, education, flood control, other basic services and essential development programs.
“So, when the councilors step up to defend taxpayers and ask tough but necessary questions, they should be met with clear answers, not hostility,” the coalition reiterated.
But perhaps its sharpest reminder was directed at the Sangguniang Panlungsod itself.
The City Council, the coalition emphasized, must never become a mere rubber stamp for executive decisions. Instead, it must faithfully discharge its oversight responsibilities, especially when billions in public funds are at stake.
“As the ones paying every single centavo spent on government projects, we demand full transparency, the highest standard of integrity, and accountability when warranted,” said the coalition’s signatories.
‘BONE-DEEP’
The coalition’s words are powerful, penetrating and bone-deep. And rightly so. After all, this matter involves the people’s hard-earned money.
Bing and Albee cannot simply brush aside these demands. Both must be prepared to answer legitimate questions about the financial commitments made under their respective administrations.
This matter can no longer be drowned out by another grand pakulo, even one dangling millions of pesos in prizes. Public entertainment is one thing. Public accountability is another. And no amount of spectacle can substitute for a proper audit.
What do the people want? Audit! Audit! Audit! That’s it!
Well, watch out for the next episode of this much-talked-about financial matter in the “City of Smiles.” Because behind those smiles, the questions are becoming more serious — and the demand for answers is growing louder.
And this time, the alarm is not merely ringing. It is bone-deep./PN
