Very high fuel consumption brings trouble to Bing, 6 others
BACOLOD CITY – Complaints for plunder and administrative charges were filed by two Bacolod residents against Mayor Evelio Leonardia and other city officials including a gasoline station owner relative to the city's "highly questionable" fuel consumption.
Other respondents named in the complaints filed by Armando Colado, a former police officer, and Christopher Villeta were City Accountant Eduardo Ravena, City Legal Officer Atty. Allan Zamora, City Administrator Dr. Rogelio Balo, Secretary to the Mayor Atty. Goldwyn Nifras, Former Bacolod City Police Chief Sr. Supt. Ronilo Quebrar and Francis A, Torres General Manager of FAT Petron Service Station in Lizares-Araneta Sts. Bacolod.
The complainants alleged that the respondents "amassed, acquired and accumulated ill-gotten wealth in the aggregate amount of P72,890,101.40 resulting to decrease on the government equity account while unjustly enriching themselves at the expense and to the damage and prejudice of the people and the city Government of Bacolod."
They cited the highly questionable increase in the fuel and lubricants consumption of the city of Bacolod from P4,331,206.02 in 2005 to P39,539,787.64 in 2006.
"Over the years the City of Bacolod purchased gasoline, oil and lubricants in bulk even in the light of the fact that the City has no depot to deposit its tens of millions of pesos worth of fuel purchased monthly. Since January 1, 2006 up to December 2007 and even up to the present, payments for the purchase of fuels were made in advance without any delivery at the time of the payment. Withdrawals of gasoline at FAT Petron Service Station were done in staggered daily basis and/or in accordance with the progress of the work during the implementation of the project/programs/activities of the city," reads the complaint.
"Record also shows that even if the city fully paid the fuel for so much liters of purchase, the staggered withdrawals of gasoline from gasoline dealers were issued at higher price prevailing at the time of the withdrawal of fuel from the station. Then price stated in the Purchase Order (PO) which were already in advance was not honored by the gasoline dealers. Thus placing the City Government in a disadvantage and unwarranted damage thereby grossly violating RA 3019, section 3(e) and PD 1445 Section 88," the complainants added.
Colado said the basis of their complaint is the annual report of the Commission on Audit (COA). The administrative complaint was received by the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas last Monday, November 24, 2008.
Meanwhile, City Legal Officer Atty. Allan Zamora justified that the practice of advance payment for fuel and gasoline has been undertaken during the past administration because the city has no gasoline depot.
He believes that the "plunder charges" against them is just a cover-up of the alleged fertilizer fund scam wherein Lone District Rep. Monico Puentevella was involved.
Zamora also belittled the complaint saying it will not prosper because it is politically motivated and baseless.
He added, the COA findings cannot be used as evidence except if the Commission on Audit issued disallowance in the gasoline consumption.