• THERESA MAE DULMAN
Bacolod City Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez believes that politics is involved in the case filed against him and 10 other councilors before the Office of the Ombudsman, regarding the demolition and reconstruction of the Old City Hall structure at the corner of Araneta and Luzuriaga streets, Bacolod City.
Benitez claims that the individual who filed the case against him is linked to the previous administration.
The administrative and criminal complaint was filed by Ernesto Pineda, a former city executive assistant on market operations.
Pineda’s complaint alleges violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Technical Malversation, Procurement Reform Act, and the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009.
“He (Benitez) should answer the complaint directly, it is not about politics as it is for the interest of Bacolodnon. […] People are political in nature so I don’t get his point. He just needs to answer the complaint,” Pineda said.
Meanwhile, Benitez maintains that the rehabilitation of the building followed the correct process and that they have nothing to hide.
“The complaint is from the same group so it is part of the culture of our political life in Bacolod,” the solon said.
Pineda responded that he filed the complaint to serve a lesson to public officials.
“Corruption is not a part of Bacolodnon culture,” Pineda added.
Aside from Benitez, other respondents are Vice Mayor Claudio Jesus Puentevella and Councilors Jude Thaddeus Sayson, Israel Salanga, Em Ang, Al Victor Espino, Celia Matea Flor, and Psyche Marie Sy, Jason Villarosa, former councilors Simplicia Distrito, and Vladimir Gonzalez, and ESJ and Sons Construction and Supply President/General Manager Elwin Javelosa Jr.
The solon added that has not received a formal copy of the complaint.*
