By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Office of the Ombudsman ordered the dismissal of former Bacolod City Councilor and 2016 Liberal Party candidate for Bacolod Lone District represenative Carl Lopez on the grounds of grave misconduct, stemming from truck ban exemptions issued while he was serving as a city councilor.
According to the case, filed by former Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevella, along with a supplemental affidavit by the Office of the Ombudsman-Iloilo Regional Office Field Investigation Office, Lopez unlawfully issued truck ban exemptions to certain companies and individuals, a function of the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO).
Lopez denies the claim and has since filed a motion for reconsideration, which is currently pending.
The congressional aspirant said he had no intention of usurping the power of the mayor or BTAO, claiming the letters he sent regarding the exemptions were “merely recommendations.”
He added new evidence has also been revealed, including sworn statements from the alleged recipients of the exemptions denying the receipt of any such document.
“This runs contrary to what Puentevella and his cohorts have managed to make the graft investigators believe,” Lopez asserted.
With the former city councilor’s current separation from office, the penalty will be converted into a fine equivalent to one year’s salary and may also be deducted from his retirement benefits./WDJ