Ilonggo lawmaker denies charges

ILOILO CITY – The lawyer for Iloilo City Rep. Jerry Treñas is denying the graft charges brought against the lawmaker in connection with the release of R500,000 for the construction of a building for the Iloilo Press Club (IPC).

“That’s not correct. I will debunk that theory in court,” JJ Justiniano told Manila Bulletin in a phone interview.

The Sandiganbayan 7th Division accused Treñas of giving “unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference” for releasing the money despite the fact that IPC is “not an accredited non-governmental organization” when he was city mayor.

Treñas’ indictment before the Sandiganbayan last November 10 came after the Office of the Ombudsman found that Treñas, who was city mayor at the time, never monitored the money released to IPC in 2003 and 2004.

Assistant Special Prosecutor Jorge Espinal also said Treñas never liquidated the amount.

The money, sourced out from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of Senator Loren Legarda, was supposed to be used to construct the IPC building. The building was built at that time since, because of a feud between two IPC factions.

The IPC building was finally built in 2011 when journalist-turned-businessman and politician Rommel Ynion financed the construction.

The building however was never used by the Iloilo media because it lacks the necessary permits from City Hall.