Celino to sue Bermejo, 3 others for juggling funds of city gov’t
ROXAS CITY – Mayor Angel Alan Celino has vowed to sue former Mayor Vicente Bermejo along with three department heads for initiating the alleged illegal transfer of some P20 million from the city’s General Funds to the 20 percent Internal Revenue Allotment fund.
“Bermejo, the budget officer, accountant and treasurer are liable for juggling of funds,” Celino said in a brief press conference.
The mayor said it is not clear to him how much is left in the city government coffers to run his administration. He said, that this financial problem could not deter his vision for the city.
Celino said he found out that some P50 million had been obligated from the 20 percent IRA fund in which the fund totaled only P30 million, “it means that some P20 million was transferred from general funds to IRA.”
He said that there is only P1.3 million left for 96 casuals who work as street sweepers, auxiliary police, among others.
Last Wednesday, Celino, with Rep. Antonio del Rosorio, Gov. Victor Tanco, Sr., Vice Gov. Esteban Contreras, five board members, Vice Mayor Ronnie Dadivas, some mayors and councilors who ran under the Liberal Party took their oath at the Metropolitan Cathedral.
Earlier, Celino downplayed the claim of former Mayor Vicente Bermejo that he is leaving the city government with P300 million in its coffers.
“I don’t’ believe his statement… probably he left the said amount because he cannot bring it out,” Celino said in a radio interview in reaction to Bermejo’s statement last week.
As to the advise of Bermejo that Celino should not be dictated by few people behind him, the new mayor said that he does not need Bermejo’s advice.
“I don’t want his style,” Celino said, adding that he agrees to be dictated by the more than 33,000 stakeholders who voted for him during the May 10 election.
Celino vowed that under his administration there will no “ghost” and “15-30” employees.
To recall, Bermejo said that he will turn over the city government to Celino better than when he first assumed office, after former Mayor Antonio del Rosario.
The former mayor said he will leave the city government with some P300 million in its coffers in which P149 million was deposited in the bank, P153 million from the IRA, P7.5 million from unappropriated savings from Personnel Services, and P17 million calamity funds.
Bermejo said he also purchased several heavy equipment for the city which Celino could use during his administration.
Del Rosario, who was Bermejo’s predecessor, said that if the debts of the city left by Bermejo can be called as better then, Bermejo is right, referring to the loan for heavy equipment amounting to some P20 million.
Bermejo lamented that he lost despite his many projects in the city.
Celino garnered votes of 33,122 while Bermejo of Ugyon Kita Capiz only got 32,431 votes, with a margin of 691 votes.
