Trenas, Gil issue conflicting views over P14M payables to ABE
City Mayor Jerry Treñas and City Legal Officer Atty. Edgar Gil have contrasting views relative to the warning issued by the Ombudsman Visayas on the city government's plan to pay the contractor of the city' mothballed housing project in Pavia, Iloilo the amount of P14 million.
Gil earlier said the decision on whether to pay the Ace Builders and Enterprises will depend on the decision of the city's chief executive and the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
Gil said Ombudsman Virginia Palanca-Santiago's warning has no bearing on whatever will be the decision of the city council on the issue. Currently, the committee on infrastructure chaired by Councilor Jed Mabilog is conducting series of committee hearings on whether to pay the contractor or not.
Gil said the city council has the final say on whether to pay the contractor or not.
To note, Gil recommended to the city council the payment of P14 million remaining obligation to the contractor.
Gil's recommendation is relative to the evaluation made by the Commission on Audit.
Meanwhile, in earlier interviews Treñas said he will heed the call of the Ombudsman not to pay the contractor pending the resolution of cases earlier filed relative to the anomaly.