Two residents of Silay City have filed complaints before the Ombudsman for Visayas against Mayor Jose “Oti” Montelibano, City Administrator Ignacio Salmingo and several others for the alleged anomalous purchase of 123 sacks of rice.

Montelibano yesterday denied any wrongdoing and said the charges were part of a demolition job against him, which will not deter him from working to move Silay City forward.

The complaints for malversation of public funds, grave misconduct, dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and violation of the Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, the Government Procurement and Reform Act, and Article 220 of the Revise Penal Code for illegal use of funds and property, were filed by Montelibano's former executive assistant Jose Lindy Chan and Jojo Sumiller.

Chan and Sumiller also included job order employee Jean Samson, a clerk at the mayor's office, and several still unidentified persons in their complaints.

On November 23, 2007 Montelibano allegedly bought 123 sacks of rice from Mie-Zel Store at the Silay City Public Market for P1, 220 per sack, their complaint said.

The total amount of P149, 837.60 appearing in the cash slip is wrong, the correct amount being P150, 060, they pointed out.

The complainants said the city government did not conduct any public bidding or follow the legal procurement process at all in the purchase of the rice in question.

The complainants alleged that the rice purchased was never delivered to the city government by Violeta Tan, of Mie-Zel Store.

In getting a reimbursement from public funds for a fictitious transaction the mayor and the other respondents committed the felony of malversation, the complainants said.

Chan said the rice complaint is one of 20 cases he is filing against Montelibano.

Montelibano said Chan has been attacking him on the radio left and right, at least he will have the chance to defend himself in the proper forum with the filing of the complaints before the Ombudsman.

Chan was his executive assistant before whom he asked to resign, Montelibano said.

The charges being filed against me appear to be part of a demolition job but they will not deter me from continuing to work to make Silay City move forward, Montelibano said.

He said the filing of charges against him is part of democracy, but he wishes people would get over the crab mentality and allow progress to continue in Silay City .

With the opening of the New Bacolod Silay Airport a lot of investors and tourists, especially Europeans escaping the cold winter, are coming to Silay City , he said.

He said the city government is encouraging the setting up of “bed and coffee” establishments for tourists.*CPG

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