NGC complainant asks COA for separate audit
BACOLOD CITY -- A Bacolod resident who has filed six criminal and six administrative cases against Mayor Evelio Leonardia and 15 other city officials in 2007 for the construction of New Government Center (NGC) confirmed recently that the Commission on Audit is set to send a separate legal team to audit the NGC as the special audit team commenced its 12-day verification of the technical and engineering aspects of the project.
Complainant Mr. Victor Eduardo said that the COA sent the special audit team in response to his protest against Technical Evaluation Report of the COA Technical Services dated July 21, 2007 that the price of the project is reasonable.
Eduardo said that in his 30-minute talk with COA special audit team leader Engr. Roldan Menciano, he likewise validated that the team intends to look into the validity of his report that the NGC is overpriced and now costs P724 million including site development on top of the P400 million loan from the Philippine National Bank.
"Bacoleños are burdened with P2 million monthly interest for this project," Eduardo added. He likewise presented to the special audit team an example of the floor tiles which he described as "homogenous granite tiles (polished and unpolished)" but the tiles used for the flooring at the government center were ordinary tiles.
On the other hand, Mayor Leonardia welcomed last week the commencement of the special audit and further believed that the NGC is not overpriced.
He alleged that the move for special audit could only delay their transfer to the NGC.
Earlier, he charged his political detractor for allegedly sabotaging the project through the commencement of COA's special audit.