By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

City Legal Officer (CLO), Atty. Joselito Bayatan, said his office will be preparing several legal remedies on behalf of Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia after multiple motions for reconsideration (MR) were recently dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman.
He explained his office has 60 days to prepare, either additional MRs to be filed before the Supreme Court or appealing to the Sandiganbayan, where he plans to raise issues “missed” by the Ombudsman.
Earlier, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales denied three separate MRs filed by Leonardia and nine other city officials in relation to the alleged anomalous purchase of P50 million worth of furniture and fixtures for the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC).
In a decision signed last month, the MRs were denied on lack of merit, pointing out, the respondents were “direct participants” in the act.
Leonardia, meanwhile, stated the questions in the case are all based on “procedures and technicalities.”/WDJ