Monico faces raps over P21.5-M SEA Games fund
MANILA – For failing to ian account multimillion- peso funds spent for Bacolod City’s hosting of the 2005 Southeast Asian Games (SEAG), former congressman and mayor Monico Puentevella should stand trial before the Sandiganbayan, according to the Office of the Ombudsman.
Yesterday Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales ordered the filing of charges against Puentevella f or malversation of public funds and violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
“Respondent’s failure to liquidate or account for P21,565,832.50 under his custody and control, despite demands and the lapse of several years from the time the liquidation was due,
t would necessarily lead to the conclusion that he had used the funds for his personal benefit,” according to Morales.
For Bacolod City’s hosting of the 23rd SEA Games, the Department of Budget and Management issued in August 2005 Special Allotment Release Order amounting to P50 million for the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
According to Ombudsman i nvestigators, PSC t hen transferred the fund to the Bacolod South East Asian Games Organizing Committee (BASOC) thru checks payable to BASOC and/or Puentevella.
The investigators, however, found out that the SEAG fund was deposited to the