The secretary general of the Bacolod Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee was a no-show at the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod session yesterday.

Eric Loretizo was invited by the SP to attend its session together with BaSoc finance committee chairman Arturo Altarejos for further inquiries from the SP on the recent holding of the 23rd Southeast Asian Games in Bacolod City.

In a letter to the SP dated Mar. 14, Loretizo said BaSoc had already submitted its financial report covering the P9 million counterpart fund of Bacolod City for co-hosting the 23rd SEA Games to Mayor Evelio Leonardia on Jan. 18, 2006.

BaSoc had earlier submitted a copy of a 16-page financial report covering the P9 million (out of the P10 million city government commitment) to Vice Mayor Renecito Novero on Dec. 29, 2005 and furnished copies to the members of the SP.

Loretizo said that, with regards to the SP's request for a copy of the financial statement indicating what the SP Resolution calls as "other funds" from other financial sources of the SEA Games, the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee would be in the best position to answer that query.

He said PhilSoc secretary general Stephen Hontiveros had already issued a certification indicating how much PhilSoc had transmitted to the local hotels through BaSoc. The same amount, in the form of individual checks to local hotels, was payment for the billeting of athletes/team coaches, and have already been liquidated by the BaSoc finance committee to PhilSoc, he added.

Loretizo said other peripheral issues have likewise been addressed by Altarejos and himself during previous appearances before the SP. He said he was advised by the BaSoc Executive Committee that it was no longer necessary since the same documents have already been submitted to the Office of the City Mayor and the Commission on Audit, which are the proper agencies.

Meanwhile, Presidential Management Staff Assistant Secretary Carlos R.V. Rivera, in his letter to SP Secretary Nilo Alejandrino dated Mar. 3, said that, according to Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella, BaSoc chairman, only P50 million was released to the committee for the conduct of the SEAG in Bacolod, and the amount has been liquidated with the Office of the President.

Rivera's letter was in response to SP Resolution No. 72 Series of 2006, inquiring about the veracity of news report alleging that P65 million had been released to the Bacolod City government and the BaSoc for the 23rd SEA in Bacolod City.*CGS

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