The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas recently ordered former Silay City Mayor Jose Montelibano, along with City Councilors Jose Lopez, Jr. and Ireneo Celes, Jr., to respond to allegations of corruption hurled by former Senior Police Officer 1 (SPO1) Dante Victor Escorpion, who held a press conference at the Negros Press Club yesterday.

According to Escorpion, who was previously assigned to Silay City, the former mayor allegedly threatened him with a gun and forced him to kneel.

He also claimed misuse of funds after Montelibano allegedly issued checks to Lopez and Celes, worth P50,000 each, intended for financial assistance after the declaration of State of Calamity in 2016; however, there has been no indication on how the money was spent as no bidding was conducted for the procurement of materials or supplies.

The order, signed last October by Ombudsman-Visayas Acting Director Euphemia Bacalso, said there was enough cause to proceed with criminal and administrative investigations./DGB, WDJ