BACOLOD City – The central office of the Ombudsman dismissed the criminal and administrative charges against former mayor Monico Puentevella and several active and former department heads of the city government for lack of probable cause and lack of substantial evidence.
In a joint resolution dated Jan. 15, Ombudsman Samuel Martires dismissed the criminal complaint for violation of Article 220 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) and Section 3(e) and (g) of Republic Act (RA) 3019 in relation to RA No. 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act) against:
* Puentevella;
* former Bids and Awards (BAC) officer Jerome Solinap (retired General Services Office or GSO head);
* Maria Agueda Dela Torre, city veterinarian;
* Ephraem Hechanova, retired assistant department head of the Department of Public Services;
* Mae Cuaycong, assistant department head of the Bacolod Housing Authority;
* Victor Emmanuel Espina, GSO supply officer;
* Roger Dullano, former executive assistant;
* Aaron Bais, former head of City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO); and
* late Maximino Sillo, former head of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office.
The Ombudsman likewise dismissed the administrative case for misconduct against the respondents.
The case stemmed from the procurement of 10 utility vehicles worth P8.5 million requested by the CDRRMO, and the use of the same by the Bacolod City Police Office.
Another joint resolution signed by Martires (dated Dec. 9, 2019) dismissed the criminal complaint for Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, falsification by public officer, employee or notary or ecclesiastical minister under Article 171, and illegal use of public funds or property against Puentevella, Solinap, Dela Torre, Hechanova, Cuaycong, and Sillo.
The administrative case for grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service against them was also dismissed for lack of evidence subject of the forgoing admonition.
The complaints were in relation to the procurement of a road grader.
On Nov. 12, 2019, Martires signed another joint resolution in relation to the alleged splitting of contracts for the purchase of the communication equipment for the use of the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO).
The criminal complaint for the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act filed against Puentevella, Solinap, Dela Torre, Hechanova, Cuaycong, Espina, Dullano, Sillo and late Reynaldo Ebreo (former BTAO head) was dismissed as well as the administrative complaint for grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty.
All of the complaints were filed by Samuel “Sammy” Montoyo, executive assistant of Mayor Evelio Leonardia.
According to Puentevella, they were all vindicated. All of the transactions in relation to the said cases happened during his administration (2016 to 2019).
Montoyo, on the other hand, said he is yet to receive the copy of the resolutions./PN
