Board Member: Hopefully, the investigation will be transparent

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. reportedly wants to hasten the ongoing investigation into the controversial Negros First Animal Hub, which is being constructed within the Panaad Park and Stadium.

Negros Occidental Board Member Salvador Escalante, Jr. said the governor ordered Provincial Legal Officer, Atty. Mary Ann Lamis, who heads the investigating team, to hasten the probe.

“The governor wants a speedy investigation because he [cannot] wait any longer,” the provincial official said. “He does not want his name to be dragged [into] the issue.”

“Hopefully, the investigation will be transparent and we will be satisfied so there will be no need for the [Provincial Board] to conduct a parallel investigation,” he added. “We do not want to pre-empt the investigation.”

Escalante said they already have partial information as to who cleared the construction and who made the layout of the building, but he did not divulge any details due to the pending investigation.

The infrastructure project garnered attention after a complaint was filed with the provincial Bids and Awards Committee, the Office of the Ombudsman, and the Commission on Audit, claiming the project did not undergo a bidding process and lacked proper documentation.

It was unfortunate the issue came out during the 25th Panaad Festival, when everybody was busy, Escalante added.

Marañon earlier denied any knowledge of the project and ordered an investigation.

A female supplier, whose name is being withheld for security reasons, admitted to providing materials for the construction.

She took responsibility for the building and said she will pay the contractor on an installment basis.

P4 million was already spent for the construction of the building, the supplier noted.

She also admitted to having no documents and affirmed nobody from the provincial government formally provided clearance for the construction./DGB, WDJ