Plunder rap vs solon now with Ombudsman
BACOLOD CITY – Save Bacolod Movement (SBM) spokesperson Romy Niere confirmed yesterday that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has already endorsed to the Office of the Ombudsman the plunder case filed against Bacolod City Lone District Representative Monico Puentevella by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Niere cited that the endorsement dated September 24, 2009 which was signed by Asst. Chief State Prosecutor Richard Anthony D. Fadullon stated that: “Respectfully referred to the Honorable Ombudsman, Agham Road, Diliman 1101, Quezon City, for appropriate action, the within record of I.S. No. XVI-INV-091-00662, entitled PSC vs. Cong, Puentevella, for plunder under Republic Act 7080, as amended, the same being within her sphere of competence and jurisdiction pursuant to RA 6770 otherwise known as the Ombudsman Act of 1989.”
Niere said that this endorsement, a copy of which was received by the PSC on October 8. 2009, means that the Department of Justice having found merit on the case is asking Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez to conduct an investigation and prosecute Cong. Puentevella on the alleged fiscal mismanagement of BASOC funds amounting to more than P50.5 million pesos or even more.
Niere further emphasized that when he discussed this case to the SBM lawyers, they consider the endorsement as a proof that, indeed, there is a probable case or prima facie evidence against Puentevella.
He also said that if the plunder case against Puentevella is weak the DOJ would not have endorsed the same to the Office of the Ombudsman.
Earlier, SBM presented that all checks issued by the National Treasury were deposited to Puntevella”s personal account at RCBC. SBM maintains that justice must be served and the offenders must suffer the consequences of their actions.
