The Sandiganbayan Seventh Division recently suspended Iloilo Lone District Rep. Jerry Treñas for 90 days amid graft charges in relation to a P500,000 donation from Senator Loren Legarda, intended for the construction of the Iloilo Press Club building during his tenure as Iloilo City mayor.

According to the Sandiganbayan, the then-mayor gave “unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference” for the funding; which, according to Assistant Special Prosecutor III Jorge Espinal, was never monitored or audited.

The congressman’s legal counsel, Atty. JJ Justiniano, earlier denied the allegations.

The funding was released in two batches, the first in December 2003 and the second in January 2004; however, the building was not constructed until 2011, after he was already out of office, with the project financed by Rommel Ynion./WDJ