The Committee on Public Accounts of the House of Representatives has issued a show-cause order against the mayor of Silay City in Negros Occidental.

The show-cause order issued against Silay City Mayor Joedith Gallego, was reportedly for his failure to appear in a House inquiry twice.

The hearing was in relation to the alleged irregularity in a P1.1-billion loan from the local government unit for three mega infrastructure projects.

Gallego said he is ready to answer inquiries about how the local government unit (LGU) used the funds.

“Kung mayroong darating, willing talaga. Welcome talaga. Syempre trabaho nila ‘yan. Syempre mag-a-attend ako,” Gallego said.

Gallego pointed out that he was not able to attend the inquiry because of the LGU’s preparations for a tent city as a mitigation measure to a possible explosive eruption of Kanlaon Volcano.

To recall, House Representative Stephen Paduano, chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, sought an investigation into how the LGU used the funds, which included the P300-million renovation of the Silay City Public Market, the P300-million construction of Silay City College, and P500-million Silay City Government Center.

“This is the third hearing. Based on the statement of the resource persons may problema,” Paduano said.

The Commission on Audit has also conducted its investigation on how the funds were spent on the three projects.

Further, it was learned that of the P1.1-billion loan, the bank has already released P367 million. (GMA Regional TV)