[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’Monico faces graft rap over SEA Games hosting’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
By: Mae Singuay
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
[/av_textblock]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
BACOLOD City – Former mayor and congressman Monico Puentevella is facing graft charges for allegedly failing to liquidate the P50.5-million fund for the hosting of the 23rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games from Nov. 27 to Dec. 5, 2005.
Puentevella, who was congressman that time, was accused of malversation of public funds.
On May 26, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales approved an order dated Nov. 25, 2016, stating that Puentevella violated the anti-graft and corrupt practices act.
The P50.5-million was released by the Department of Budget and Management to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) for the SEA Games hosting. The PSC then forwarded the budget to the Bacolod Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Basoc) thru checks payable to the organization and Puentevella.
However, Basoc is not registered either as a corporation or a partnership with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
A resolution has required Puentevella to liquidate the funds after the completion of the SEA Games.
Two letters, dated Sept. 4, 2008 and Sept. 24, 2008, were sent by then PSC chairman William Ramirez to Puentevella, requesting him to submit a complete and proper liquidation of the P50.5 million.
In a letter on June 17, 2011, COA-PSC supervising auditor Susana Medez stated that due to Puentevella’s compliance and settlement in the amount of P498,500, the unsettled balance of Basoc was reduced to P41,132, 617.96.
Puentevella further settled the amount of P19,566,785.46, leaving the unsettled balance at P21,565,832.50
Samuel Montoyo, now executive assistant of Bacolod City mayor Evelio Leonardia, also filed a complaint against Puentevalla on May 8, 2015.
He alleged that the former congressman deposited the funds in his personal bank account.
Sara Esguerra, spokesperson of Puentevella, said in a text message that the liquidation is still pending and being reviewed by the COA.
In most cases, it is premature for the Ombudsman to decide on this case simply because the COA has yet to give its final resolution, Esguerra added.
“We hope the Ombudsman will reconsider its decision,” she said.
Esguerra said Puentevella may file a Motion for Reconsideration once he receives a copy of the order./PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
