Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella said he has not violated, contemplated to violate, nor had an intent to violate the provisions of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, in reaction to the case filed against him and two others involving the purchase of alleged overpriced IT package.

The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has ordered Puentevella, DepEd regional director Victoriano Tirol and Jessie Garcia, president of Merryland Publishing Corp., the supplier of the IT package, to file their counter-affidavits and other controverting evidence after finding enough basis to proceed with the criminal investigation of the complaint filed against them by City Legal Officer Allan Zamora.

The case was based on the result of the investigation and interview conducted by a team from the City Legal Office in the different public schools which showed that the IT package was overpriced.

This was after broadcaster Donard Nojas claimed that Puentevella had allocated and spent P10.4 million in 2002, P15.2 million in 2004, and P13.2 million in 2005 from his annual Priority Development Assistance Fund for the purchase of IT equipment for various public elementary and high schools in the city.

Nojas said records from the Department of Budget and Management showed that 38 public schools in 2004 and 33 in 2005 each received an IT package consisting of only two computer units and accessories worth P400,000.

HIS LEGAL RIGHT

In his counter-affidavit, Puentevella admitted that the project was undertaken by his office which is responsible for the sourcing of funds and identification of the recipients.

If the funds from his Priority Development Assistance Fund were availed of and used, he said, it is within his legal right as approved by the DBM. He added that it is an open book and therefore there is nothing to hide.

Puentevella said the symbolic delivery of all the IT package was done in his house as Congressman, and is a matter of right.

BEOWULF AND GRENDEL

He said Zamora failed to show whether the Sangguniang Panlungsod acted on the letter of Nojas dated Feb. 7, 2007, or that he was given mandate to create a committee and, like Beowulf, embarked in his quest to slay a dragon named Grendel. But only this time he made a blunder as he turned his ire to the people's choice, the respondent, who, he said, is the elected congressman of Bacolod City .

Puentevella said Zamora filed the complaint against him based on the investigation report of the committee which his office organized consisting of employees directly under his own office, and whom he considers his political adversaries.

SIMPLY TO HARASS

He said the complaint of Zamora is simply intended to harass, humiliate, intrude, cast aspersion and blacken his person.

Nojas recalled that Tirol had claimed that it was the Department of Education that bought the IT learning package.

Tirol had said the DepEd bought the instructional materials for English, Math and Science and that it was responsible for the bidding of the IT learning package and that the office of Puentevella had nothing to do with the bidding and awarding of the project.

Meanwhile, Zamora said he is preparing his answer to the allegations of Puentevella.*CGS

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