[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=’OBO bribery claim text sender told: Show self ‘ 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=”]
BACOLOD City – City hall is looking into the allegation of bribery in the Office of the Building Official (OBO) that spread through a text message.
The City Legal Office (CLO) is encouraging whoever sent the text to come out in the open and formally file a complaint.
Sent to journalists here on Thursday, the text stated that OBO head Isidro Sun Jr. issued a “fake temporary occupancy permit” and that “some engineers” received a “P1.5-million bribe for the opening of CityMall on Nov. 8.”
While it may summon the persons named in the text, city hall can only do so much until the complainant reveals themselves, City Legal Officer Joselito Bayatan said.
“We cannot start on a mere hearsay,” he stressed. “We encourage them to execute a sworn statement and forward it to the CLO.”
Bayatan was cautious of the repercussions of spreading unsubstantiated claims.
“It’s easy to say [anything], but if they (text message sender) withdraw what they said, we cannot run after them,” said the city lawyer.
Meanwhile Sun welcomed any investigation. It is a chance to clear his name, he said.
Sun disclosed he actually discovered a fake occupancy permit for CityMall on Nov. 8 from a mall tenant processing an OBO permit but did not honor it.
He said he did not bother because they issued the genuine occupancy permit that day, too.
Sun said the fake occupancy permit had the name “Engr. Samuel Sun” but bore a signature similar to his, and “Municipality of Bacolod” as letterhead, and named “Certificate of Partial Occupancy.”
The OBO does not issue permits for “partial occupancy,” he stressed.
Sun explained that they issued CityMall a Certificate of Occupancy after mall project in-charge Reynaldo Tenedero filed an affidavit of undertaking on Nov. 8 promising to complete all construction deficiencies in 30 days.
Such deficiencies include, among others, restrooms for persons with disabilities at the ground floor; railings at the stairs and the second floor atrium; second floor plan; and all plumbing fixtures./PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
