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[av_heading heading=’Novero facing criminal, admin charges?’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
By: Mae Singuay
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Thursday, June 22, 2017
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BACOLOD City – Councilor Renecito Novero was surprised over a report circulating in this city that his name has been included in the list of persons facing criminal and administrative charges from the Office of the Ombudsman.
The report said the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has informed complainants Sarah Teresa Esguerra and Othello Ramos their final action on the criminal complaint for gross violation of the anti-graft and corrupt practices act and Government Procurement Reform Act.
The two also lodged administrative charges against city officials for grave misconduct, dishonesty and acts prejudicial to public service.
Esguerra and Ramos filed the complaint against Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Annabelle Badajos (then City Tresurer), Eduardo Ravena (then City Accountant), and Ricardo Dahildahil (then officer-in-charge of Management Audit Services Office) based on the Commission on Audit’s annual audit report released in December 2007.
However, the recent document received by the complainants from the Ombudsman included Novero’s name as one of the respondents.
The document, signed by Alfred Yann Ogues, officer-in-charge of Field Investigation Office, on May 9, 2017, stated that an investigation led to the filing of criminal charge for violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 (anti-graft and corrupt practices act) and administrative charge for violation of grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service against Leonardia, Ravena, Atty. Goldwyn Nifras (then mayor’s secretary), Atty. Lorendo Dilag (then City Adminsitrator), and Novero (then Vice Mayor).
The complainants accused the respondents for alleged purchase of goods in the aggregating amount of P9,338,747.37 for the regular operation and planned activities/projects of the city which were not bid out.
Novero said he has not yet received a copy of any document from the Ombudsman.
According to him, he was surprised when he learned that his name was involved in the report as he was not included in the complaint filed by Esguerra and Ramos.
“I have not received any document from anybody yet about the alleged case. That seems to refer to an incident in 2007, about 10 years ago, where my participation was merely to preside the session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod,” he said.
He added that he is willing to answer the complaint if there is any and if the Ombudsman requires him to do so./PN
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