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[av_heading heading=’‘ONCE AND FOR ALL’ Bing welcomes criminal case at Sandiganbayan’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”][/av_heading]
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Monday, December 4, 2017
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BACOLOD City – Mayor Evelio “Bing” Leonardia welcomes the filing of a criminal complaint against him and eight others at the Sandiganbayan for it will “once and for all clear our names.”
Leonardia released a statement yesterday after receiving information that the Office of the Ombudsman lodged the criminal case last week.
The case was in relation to the procurement of furniture worth P50 million for the Bacolod City Government Center in 2008.
The Ombudsman ordered Leonardia’s dismissal after it found him and eight others guilty of grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty charges.
The Court of Appeals (CA) granted Leonardia’s camp a temporary restraining order in January this year.
In September, the CA exonerated Leonardia and six others – Goldwyn Nifras, Luzviminda Treyes, Nelson Sedillo Sr., Jaries Encabo, Belly Aguillon, and Aladino Agbones – from the charges while it found the two others – Melvin Recabar and Eduardo Ravena – guilty of simple misconduct.
Recabar and Ravena were penalized with a three-month suspension.
The Ombudsman then filed a motion for reconsideration, which is still pending resolution at the CA.
Leonardia said the Sandiganbayan is “another playing field.”
“This is another level of the judicial system. So for us, this is now an entirely new ballgame,” he added.
The mayor said he hopes the Sandiganbayan will see the facts of the case as the CA.
“We have valid reasons to be hopeful. Even the Ombudsman admits in its own resolution that there was no conspiracy and no evident bad faith in our handling of this procurement,” said Leonardia.
“All the furniture items were delivered. There was even no mention of overpricing,” he added./PN
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