Celino forms TF Pagbag-o to probe ex-mayor’s alleged anomalies
ROXAS CITY – Mayor Angel Alan Celino has formed Task Force Pagbag-o to probe the alleged anomalies committed by his predecessor Vicente Bermejo.
In Executive Order No. 03, Series 2010, the mayor created the task force as a fact- finding body to probe the alleged mismanagement of financial affairs, transactions, operation of the city government under the administration of Bermejo.
The task force is composed of City Councilor Julius Abela, chairman of committee on laws and good government; City Administrator Gilbert Tan Gaurino, vice chairman; and Lawyer Luvim Amores, acting legal officer; City Engineer Ardieli Ambrosio; Budget Officer Gilda Fernando; City Accountant Teresita Bediones; and Atty. Faustino Roxas as members.
According to Tanco, the city government’s coffer is already exhausted because some of its funds were already obligated for some projects.
“In fairness to Bermejo, he might have used the funds properly and without anomalies” Celino said in a radio interview.
However, the mayor said that once the task force finds anomalies in fund disbursements, he will file a case against Bermejo and other officials involved.
He said that “hotlogs” impounded during the stint of Mayor Antonio del Rosario, now first district congressman, were found missing during the Bermejo administration.
Celino said he will also put up a billboard in front of city hall to show the statement of expenditures of the Bermejo administration.
On the other hand, he will also put up a white board inside the city hall that will also show the spending under his administration.
Earlier, Celino said it is not clear to him how much fund is left to run his administration, but he assured the public that financial problems could not deter his vision for the city.
Celino said he found that P50 million was obligated to the 20 percent IRA fund, which initially has P30 million, “(which) means that some P20 million was transferred from the general funds to IRA.”
He brushed aside Bermejo’s claim that he is leaving the city government with P300 million in its coffers.
