The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod yesterday passed a resolution to inquire from the Executive Committee of the Bacolod City Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee whether all funds deposited to the account of BaSoc should be considered as funds of the city.

Bacolod Vice Mayor Renecito Novero yesterday said the BaSoc is only an Ad Hoc Committee for the SEA Games, and as such, it has already served its purpose.

BaSoc maintains two separate accounts - one is the city fund for the city's P9 million counterpart fund as co-host of the SEA Games, and the other the marketing fund deposit.

Councilor Al Victor Espino said he will recommend the filing of charges against those concerned if it is proven that pubic funds were not disbursed properly.

Novero said it should be clarified as to who owns the money solicited by BaSoc and who is authorized to spend it, in order to settle all controversies surrounding the funds.

He also suggested that the savings be used to pay the unpaid SEA Games volunteers. He also said he congratulates BaSoc for its performance during the SEA Games.

Arturo Altarejos Jr., chairman of the BaSoc finance committee, said BaSoc has a savings of about P1 million in its marketing fund. However, he also said, it has other unpaid obligations as of Dec. 19, 2005.

Altarejos said his office has not received a single centavo from BaSoc and he accepted the responsibility in his desire to help the city and Rep. Monico Puentevella in the accounting of the funds. The BaSoc Finance Committee submitted to the Executive Committee on Dec. 19 its financial report on revenues generated for the SEA Games, he said.

Espino said that, as chairman of the Committee on Finance, he will not recommend the release of the remaining P1 million fund committed by the city to BaSoc.

He said Loretizo declared that a P700,000 income was generated through ticket sales during his appearance on Dec. 8, 2005.

"Thirty percent of it is about 200,000 and since there is money left, I don't think there is a need to release the remaining P1 million," he said.

Espino said BaSoc also has savings of about 400,000 and it is asking for another P400,000 to pay its unpaid obligations. It cannot be excluded from the 30 percent amusement tax because it did not ask for an exemption.

Espino said he and some councilors have tried to check with offices or agencies in Manila that had helped the city during the SEA Games to validate the claims of Loretizo. He said they will come up with an inventory against the claims of BaSoc and make a presentation.

Meanwhile, during the session yesterday, Espino asked Loretizo to name the four councilors who allegedly asked for favors during the SEA Games but Loretizo declined, saying he will do so in another forum.

Loretizo said BaSoc will submit copies of the receipts and other attachments to the Mayor to be forwarded to the Commission on Audit.

The SP also passed a resolution expressing its gratitude for the voluntary services rendered by the accounting firm of Altarejos and Altarejos, as the finance committee responsible for the accounting and report of city funds contributed to BaSoc in relation to the SEA Games in Bacolod.*CGS

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