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[av_heading heading=’Monico faces raps over P21.5-M SEA Games fund’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Wednesday, June 28, 2017
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MANILA – For failing to account multimillion-peso funds spent for Bacolod City’s hosting of the 2005 Southeast Asian Games (SEAG), former congressman and mayor Monico Puentevella should stand trial before the Sandiganbayan, according to the Office of the Ombudsman.
Yesterday Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales ordered the filing of charges against Puentevella for malversation of public funds and violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
“Respondent’s failure to liquidate or account for P21,565,832.50 under his custody and control, despite demands and the lapse of several years from the time the liquidation was due, would necessarily lead to the conclusion that he had used the funds for his personal benefit,” according to Morales.
For Bacolod City’s hosting of the 23rd SEA Games, the Department of Budget and Management issued in August 2005 Special Allotment Release Order amounting to P50 million for the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
According to Ombudsman investigators, PSC then transferred the fund to the Bacolod South East Asian Games Organizing Committee (BASOC) thru checks payable to BASOC and/or Puentevella.
The investigators, however, found out that the SEAG fund was deposited to the personal account of the then congressman.
“By depositing the funds in [Puentevella’s] personal account, he had absolute custody and control of and responsibility for the funds,” stated the Ombudsman in its resolution.
After liquidation of the funds and upon audit by the Commission on Audit (COA), the liquidation documents of BASOC were returned by COA without action.
Several letters from 2008 to 2009 were sent to BASOC and/or Puentevella requiring the settlement of the fund. As of 2011, however, P21,565,832.50 remained unsettled, according to Ombudsman investigators.
“The documents for the unliquidated amount were not approved by COA-PSC since these consisted of personal vouchers of respondent Puentevella and mere photocopies of invoices or contracts,” the Ombudsman said.
COA-PSC made demands on Puentevella to settle or liquidate the financial assistance thru two letters dated Jan. 16, 2009 and March 24, 2009.
“However, respondent failed to comply,” stated the Ombudsman./PN
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