Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella has denied spreading talks that the Ombudsman has ordered the suspension of Bacolod City officials involved in the construction of the government center.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia also denied reports of their alleged suspension, calling them a product of rumor-mongering.

Puentevella said that as chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Communication, and with the current rice, food and power crisis in the country, he has no time for childish issues. “If the kitchen is too hot, get out!” he said.

Leonardia said “Our people have pointed to the camp of Puentevella as the source of rumor-mongering.” They also have information from very, very reliable persons that Puentevella went to the Ombudsman in Cebu to lobby for their suspension, he said.

The solon was also spotted at the Ombudsman’s office in Manila, probably for the same purpose, he added.

Leonardia said “Maybe he is confident that his lobbying will be effective, but I don’t think so.” This is indeed his behavioral pattern because it is the same as what he did when the city applied for a loan with the Land Bank of the Philippines, the Development Bank of the Philippines, and later with the Philippine National Bank, he said.

He also asked the officials of the banks not to grant the loan of the city, Leonardia added.

“I think he is fast becoming an expert in sabotage and intrigues. But we, together with the vice mayor and other councilors, are very confident that when the cases against us are decided based on the merits, we will be more than vindicated,” Leonardia said.

For one, we believe that the government center is what majority of our people want and need, he said.

We were also proven right in deciding immediately on the construction of the center as shown by the Iloilo experience, Leonardia said. Had they not started right away, the project could have cost the city P80 million to P90 million more. Iloilo, which is also building its center is facing a higher cost because of recent price increases of building materials.

Besides, the government center project can be inspected anytime, he said.

Leonardia said that even if they try to use a chisel to break up the building, they can always count the bars and other construction materials that went into it. It is not like the case of the “liquid fertilizer scam”, where nothing can be accounted for, as everything disappeared in thin air, he added.*CGS

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