By CESAR JOLITO III
Bacolod City Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez denied allegations of graft and corruption in the “Super City” project, calling the complaint filed before the Office of the Ombudsman “baseless and politically motivated.”
In a statement, Benitez defended the project’s legality, stressing that the deal underwent “almost two years of rigorous evaluation” under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Code of the Philippines, the Bacolod P4 Ordinance, and other relevant laws.
“Every stage — from the unsolicited proposal to the final ratification by the city council — was thoroughly documented, transparent and subjected to proper institutional oversight,” Benitez said.
The case stemmed from the late broadcaster Rolando Baliguat’s complaint over the build-transfer-maintain agreement between the city government and Highdata Infra Corp.
Baliguat alleged violations of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, involving Benitez, almost all sitting city councilors, former officials and executives of the private proponent.
The Ombudsman has found sufficient basis to conduct a preliminary investigation and directed the respondents to submit counter-affidavits and evidence.
Benitez rejected claims that the contract was disadvantageous to the government, citing a value-for-money analysis that showed the project would modernize the city’s infrastructure.
These include a centralized command center, intelligent street lighting with surveillance analytics, and upgraded tax mapping and GIS systems — all “without any unlawful disbursement of public funds.”
The lawmaker also maintained that questions about the proponent’s capacity and the city council’s approval process were unfounded.
“The PPP Code expressly allows partnerships with newly registered corporations that pass capability evaluations,” he said.
Benitez added that the council’s decision to fast-track approval of City Ordinance No. 1089 was within its authority under the Local Government Code.
“No public rights were compromised. No public asset was surrendered,” he said.
Aside from Benitez, those named in the complaint include Vice Mayor Claudio Jesus Raymundo Puentevella, Councilors Al Victor Espino, Israel Salanga, Celia Matea Flor, Psyche Marie Sy, Lady Glez Gonzales-Pallen, Jason Isidro Villarosa, Em Ang, former councilor Cindy Rojas, Vladimir Gonzales, Simplicia Distrito, and five Highdata Infra Corp. officials./CJ, WDJ