By JEN BAYLON
The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) attempted to serve a contempt order issued by the House of Representatives against Silay City Legal Officer Atty. Janus Jarder on alleged irregularities surrounding a P1.1 billion loan procurement by the Silay City government.
However, the attempt was unsuccessful as Jarder was reportedly not at his residence during the service of the order on January 6.
According to NOCPPO Director Police Colonel Rainerio de Chavez, officers went to Jarder’s home to deliver the contempt order, but only his child was present to receive the document.
De Chavez clarified that had Jarder been present at the time, authorities were prepared to escort him to the detention facility of the House of Representatives in compliance with the order.
The contempt citation stems from an investigation conducted by the House Committee on Public Accounts, chaired by Negros Occidental 3rd District Representative Joseph Stephen Paduano.
During the hearings in December, Jarder was accused of evading critical questions and making disparaging remarks against Congress, which led to his citation for contempt.
The controversy deepened after Silay City Health Officer Dr. Krisna Barnuevo testified during the inquiry, revealing alarming allegations against Jarder.
According to Barnuevo, on the night of November 10, 2024, a day before the first hearing, Jarder allegedly advised attendees not to consume any food or drinks served during the congressional proceedings, claiming they might be laced with drugs.
Barnuevo further disclosed that Jarder explicitly instructed her not to attend the congressional hearings altogether.
These statements were seen as an attempt to undermine and disrupt the investigative process.
In response to Barnuevo’s testimony, Jarder reportedly called her a “congenital liar,” further fueling tensions between the two officials and raising questions about his credibility.
The investigation into Silay City’s procurement practices has drawn significant public attention.
The P1.1 billion loan at the center of the controversy has been scrutinized for potential irregularities in its bidding and approval process.
During the congressional inquiry by the House committee on November 11, 2024, Silay Mayor Joedith Gallego said there were no irregularities in the procurement process of the projects undertaken by the city government amounting to P1.4 billion.
Gallego denied Paduano’s statement that they entered into a P1.4 billion loan agreement with the two state-run banks.
According to the mayor, the city government has only a P1.1 billion loan agreement.
The mayor added that the previous administration was the one that proposed a P1 billion loan agreement for just one city government project.
Earlier, Paduano alleged that there were irregularities in the procurement process of infrastructure and other projects by the local government unit.
The projects in question are the Silay City College, the beautification of the Silay City Market, and the new city hall.
Paduano said it came to his attention that the city government had approved local measures that were allegedly laden with discrepancies, irregularities and evident partiality.
He added that some questions have allegedly arisen regarding transparency and lack of consultation with some groups for the projects./JB, WDJ