By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed two criminal cases filed against former Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevella surrounding the P50.5 million fund for the Bacolod Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (BASOC) in relation to the city’s hosting of the 23rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in 2005.
The incident took place while Puentevella was serving as Bacolod City lone district congressman.
According to the order, Ombudsman Samuel Martires noted a “clear and unjustified delay” in the probe by the Field Investigation Office (FIO), which resulted in the dismissal in observance of the respondent’s right to a speedy trial. “The records fail to show that FIO was able to justify why it incurred a delay of five years in terminating the fact-finding investigation,” the order added.
Puentevella welcomed the decision, calling it a “vindication” and that it shows the cases were “politically motivated and meant to mislead the public.”
The first case was initially filed by the FIO in 2014; while the second case was brought forward the following year by Samuel Montoyo, Sr., who serves executive assistant to incumbent Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia.
On August 23, 2005 then-Department of Budget and Management Secretary Romulo Neri issued a special allotment amounting to P50 million intended for the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) in hosting the SEA Games in 2005.
The PSC transferred a total of P50.5 million to BASOC via checks made payable to BASOC/Puentevella./DGB, WDJ
