Batapa-Sigue: The city gave undue advantage to fuel suppliers
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
Incumbent Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, along with two other city officials, were indicted by the Office of the Ombudsman on four counts of violating the anti-graft and corrupt practices act.
In a press conference, former Bacolod City Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue said she acquired a copy of the Ombudsman’s decision late Wednesday night and named the two other respondents in the case as Eduardo Hulleza Ravena and Ricardo Dahildahil.
The former city official said the case stems from the supposed purchase of P49 million worth of fuel wherein the city made advance payments despite not having any available fuel depots.
“What happened is, when the time comes that they have to get fuel, the city paid for the difference because the price of fuel increased and, therefore, the city paid for the additional [fees],” Batapa-Sigue explained.
She added, the city gave undue advantage to the fuel suppliers.
Batapa-Sigue said they disclosed the information to the public as the papers, which arrived around April 8, are of public interest and should be made known.
“We are very concerned with the image of the city,” she added.
The documents, which were distributed to members of the media, also show the order was issued on September 26, 2018.
The order, which was signed by Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer Carl Vincent Sasuman and reviewed by Preliminary Investigation and Administrative Adjudication director Euphemia Bacalso, also identified other respondents in the case including former Bacolod City Police Office director, Police Colonel Ronilo Quebrar; then-City Engineer’s Office head Belly Pelagio Aguillon; former Office of the Building of the Official head Teresita Jalando-on Guadalupe; and Francis Albert Torres. However, the charges on the remaining respondents were dropped due to lack of evidence.
In addition, charges of malversation of public funds against Leonardia, Ravena, and Dahildahil were also dismissed for lack of probable cause.
In response to the case, the mayor’s legal counsel, City Legal Officer, Atty. Joselito Bayatan, called Batapa-Sigue “politically desperate.”
He added, they plan to file a motion for reconsideration in the case./DGB, WDJ
