Councilor apologizes to CLO staff
Majority Floor Leader Eduardo Peñaredondo made a public apology to Rolito Dela Cruz, a staff of the City Legal Office (CLO), during last Wednesday's regular session. Earlier, Peñaredondo allegedly badmouthed De la Cruz at the CLO office when the latter refused to return to him the documents regarding his land deal with the city government. Still, nothing good came out from his transaction with the city government.
Peñaredondo said it is unfortunate that the incident happened when he admittedly raised his voice on Dela Cruz. He said, he is "not ashamed to ask forgiveness" from Dela Cruz. Prior to his apologetic stance at the session, he has also issued a statement of apology over different radio stations in the city.
He even described Dela Cruz's refusal as "noble" as he could not go against his boss. He was just wondering on how could "somebody sabotage" his transaction. At first, CLO chief Atty. Edgar Gil instructed his staff to return to them the documents. Gil made his instruction in front of Peñaredondo's staff. Only to find out that there was a "counter-signal" from Gil not to release the documents.
The documents regarding the land deal was forwarded by City Budget Officer Ninda Atinado to the CLO office for a legal opinion. The councilor wanted to get back the documents for the signature of Assistant Budget Officer Joy Toledo as Atinado went on leave.
Atinado, on her part considered the transaction as "illegal business transaction" and is in gross violation of the Article 179 of the Implementing Rules of the Local Government Code which deals on prohibited business and pecuniary interest.
Part of the Article 179 says, it shall be unlawful for any government official or employee whether directly or indirectly to (1) engage in any business transaction with the local government unit in which he is an official or employee or over which he has the power of supervision, or with any of its authorized boards, officials, agents or attorneys, whereby money is to be paid, or property or any other thing of value is to be transferred, directly, out of the resources of the local government to such person or firm.
Peñaredondo said it was not intentional for him to raise his voice as he has a good relationship with the personnel of the legal office when he is acting as the head of the zoning board. He even taunted that Gil is always absent during deliberations, the same reason why he has to act as head of the zoning board.
Meanwhile, Peñaredondo said Mayor Jerry Treñas has called Gil and Atinado last Wednesday for a meeting regarding his collection to the city government for his 3,606 square meters of lot. The property was sold to the city government for P1,442,400.