Gerochi wants Treñas, Malabor out of the mayoral race
Lawyer Romeo Gerochi is now capitalizing on the cases filed against Mayor Jerry Treñas and former Mayor Mansueto Malabor in relation to the P130 million Iloilo City Socialized Housing Project in Pavia town this coming election. He is now pressing the Ombudsman Visayas to release the resolution regarding the string of cases filed against Treñas and Malabor, for him to be the most viable candidate for the mayoral position.
The cases were docketed as OMB-V-C-03-0715-K filed by former Councilor and now Congressman Raul Gonzalez Jr. against Malabor, OMB-V-C-03-0716-K (Gonzalez, et al versus Treñas, et al, (OMB-V-A-03-0661-K (Gonzalez, et al versus Treñas et al and OMB-V-C-03-0781-L (Gerochi versus Trenas, et al). Last January 9, 2007, Gerochi also made an inquiry on these cases.
Gerochi filed only two cases against Treñas and Malabor and yet he is also making inquiries on the cases filed by Gonzalez when he was still city councilor.
Gonzalez, who was then the chair of the committee on good government of the Sangguniang Panglungsod provided the report to the Ombudsman Visayas after it was not approved by the city council during the votation. Some of those recommended to face charges were then members of the city council.
The committee on good government conducted a probe on the Pavia housing project after a sub-contractor of the housing project squealed on the use of sub-standard materials in the project site after Alex Trinidad, owner of the Ace Builders Enterprise (ABE) failed to pay him.
In yesterday's interview, Gerochi said should the Ombudsman release its decision before the March 29 deadline for the filing of the certificates of candidacy for the local elective position, he will run for mayor.
Though, he is also eyeing the congressional position.
Amusing as it is, Gerochi foresees that should their be decisions on the graft cases, he will be the only qualified candidate for mayor. He believes he has a great chance to win if he runs for mayor than in congressional position.
As election comes nearer, Gerochi is exerting all effort to get the resolution. He said as early as May 31, 2005, the Ombudsman Visayas through Pio Gargantes, graft investigator and prosecution officer 1 informed him that the four graft cases have already been resolved through a resolution dated May 9, 2005. Yet, until now, nothing was heard about the resolution.
Gerochi even threatened to file mandamus case against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez for not acting on the four cases. The cases against Treñas and Malabor were filed much earlier than the cases filed against Gov. Niel Tupas. Yet, they acted immediately on Tupas case, he quipped.
The Ombudsman should act in all cases filed before them, be it from the administration or opposition. They should convince the people that they are not yet penetrated by politics, said Gerochi.