During a recent press conference at the home of former Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevella, a press statement was distributed presenting a February 7 decision by Ombudsman Samuel Martires dismissing the consolidated cases against Puentevella regarding malversation and graft allegations surrounding the 2005 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games during his tenure as Bacolod lone district representative.
The case opened after then- Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales found Puentevella in violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for allegedly failing to account for money spent for the 2005 Southeast Asian Games, which was partly hosted by Bacolod City.
The decision 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.
The ruling also took into account the negative impact on the former mayor because of the delay and characterized Puentevella’s circumstances as “disadvantaged by restraints on his liberty and by living under a cloud of anxiety, suspicion, and, often, hostility.”
In addition, “His financial resources may be drained, his association is curtailed, and he is subjected public obloquy.”
The candidate for Bacolod City lone district congressman expressed his appreciation for the decision.
He stated: “For the past 10 years, my colleagues and I have been unfairly subjected to trial by publicity. This dismissal is a welcome vindication and only shows that the filing of those cases were politically motivated and meant to mislead the public from the resounding success of our hosting of the SEA Games. I am glad that this is over and we can move on with other endeavors that really matter for Bacolod City.”
Under Puentevella’s chairmanship, the 2005 Sea Games saw the Philippines capture it’s first and only overall championship./WDJ