”We are confident that the case will be dismissed for lack of merit when all the records and the evidence are examined, “ Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez said Monday night, Dec. 8.
A complaint was filed against Benitez and eight members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod before the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for Visayas on October 27 and released to the media last week.
It cited the “demolition” of the old city hall at corner of Luzuriaga and Araneta streets in Bacolod City and the ongoing construction of a new one.
The complaint was filed by former city executive assistant on market operations Ernesto Novo Pineda, who cited alleged violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Technical Malversation , the Procurement Reform Act, and the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009.
Pineda also named Vice Mayor Claudio Jesus Raymundo Puentevella and councilors Jude Thaddeus Sayson, Israel Salanga, Em Ang, Al Victor Espino, Celia Matea Flor, Psyche Marie Sy, former councilors Vladimir Gonzalez and Simplicia “Simple” Distrito, and contractor Elwin Javelosa Jr., president and general manager of ESJ and Sons Construction and Construction Supply in the complaint.
“We have yet to receive a copy of the complaint mentioned in recent reports regarding the demolition of the old city hall. In the interest of due process, we will issue our formal response once the documents are officially served,” Benitez said in a statement.
He stressed that the Fountain of Justice was never demolished and, in fact, remains intact.
“The issues being raised refer to actions during my term as mayor, and we are confident that all steps we took at the time were lawful, properly documented, and compliant with required procedures,” he said.
“It is important to note that the complainant — and those behind earlier complaints against me — are closely identified with the same politician repeatedly rejected by Bacolod voters,” Benitez said.
“We also question why certain city officials who approved or participated in the same project, and who are allies of the complainant, were left out of the case,” he said.
That details of the complaint were released to the media before they received any official copy is also suspect, Benitez said.
These raise serious doubts about the motives behind the filing and timing of the complaint, he said.
“Obviously, this case was not filed in the pursuit of justice — it is simply political harassment. Once the complaint is formally served, we will answer it fully,” Benitez said.
”We are confident that the case will be dismissed for lack of merit when all the records and the evidence are examined. For now, I remain focused on serving the city of Bacolod and delivering programs that uplift the lives of our people,” he added.*