The Court of Appeals denied a motion for reconsideration filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in response to the former earlier junking the grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty case against Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia regarding a P50 million purchase of furniture and fixtures for the Bacolod City Government Center.

According to Associate Justice Germano Francisco D. Legaspi, who signed the ruling, the motion would be a “mere rehash” of information already discussed during initial proceedings.

Legaspi ruled the respondents “failed to assert any new and substantial matter that would invalidate the court’s findings,” adding, “There [are] no grounds to hold Leonardia and several other public officials.”

The court also noted, petitioners Eduardo Ravena and Melvin Recabar should be held administratively liable for simple misconduct, not grave misconduct. In addition, it ruled Ravena and Recabar were not entitled to back pay for the time they were suspended.

Criminal proceedings regarding the case are currently being heard before the Sandiganbayan, where Leonardia previously expressed optimism they would render a decision in his favor.

Former Negros Occidental Board Member Victor Puey earlier called into question a similar optimism, when he claimed, “It is very clear and apparent that this honorable Court of Appeals has already prejudged the case in favor of petitioner Evelio Leonardia.”

In his complaint, he pointed out a March 2, 2017 issue of a local newspaper with a headline reading, “Mayor’s camp expects preliminary injunction.”

“This only goes to show that they already expect and are sure of a favorable ruling,” Puey argued./DGB, WDJ