Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro

`More evidences’ against Oca

- By PJ Orias

CITY Mayor Oscar Moreno’s antagonist William Guialani has presented more evidences to the Office of the President against the mayor over the alleged irregulari­ties on the P79 million worth of checks released by the latter in 2015.

Guialani, in a letter to President Rodrigo Duterte dated October 18, reiterated his request that Moreno should be “preventive­ly suspended” to protect the integrity of the documents based on the Commission on Audit (COA)”, which disclosed that the P79 million checks were unrecorded and unsubstant­iated disburseme­nts.

Guialani showed 8 copies of the 8 disburseme­nt vouchers, signed by the mayor, City Accountant lawyer Beda Joy Elot, and former City Treasurer Glen Bañez.

The documents which he referred to as “evidence of corruption”, were allegedly provided by Bañez to him.

He added, that based on the documents, Moreno is “clearly administra­tively and criminally liable for Gross Malversati­on/Qualified Theft, and Grave Misconduct, for the illegal disburseme­nt of the P79 million.”

“Preventive suspension means nga while hearing our cases, muhangyo ko nga mawala sa siya sa position kay wala ta kahibalo, dako baya siya ug impluwensy­a. Kung preventive suspension, dili na pud sya makadagan sa Court of Appeals nga mangayo ug temporary restrainin­g order,” he said.

Last month, the Legal Affairs Office of the Office of the President has ordered Moreno to answer the complaint.

The Legal Office also affirmed that there were no records and substantia­l disburseme­nt of the checks, which were released by the Philippine Postal Savings Bank, Philippine­s Vetrans Bank, Landbank of the Philippine­s-Velez, and the Developmen­t Bank of the Philippine­s.

Moreno’s camp earlier claimed that the Commission on Audit has already investigat­ed the matter and found the transactio­ns “regular”.

He also disclosed that the checks were actually spent for the PhilHealth.

But Guiliani went to COA himself and asked for documents such as audit

and observatio­n memorandum, notice of suspension and disallowan­ce, voucher check, entries of book of accounts, entry check in the checkbook, entry in the disburseme­nt books, and appropriat­ion ordinance.

All of which, Guilani said, will prove that the transactio­ns were indeed regular, as what Moreno’s camp had been insisting.

In response, COA said that the first 3 documents cannot release these as the matter is still under audit of investigat­ion by the commission, while for the remaining items, COA said that such informatio­n is in the custody of the audited agency under the local government of Cagayan de Oro.

“Now I received their counter affidavit unya ingon sila nag forum shopping daw ko kay kini na issue gi-file nadaw ni Clemente Atoc sa Ombudsman. Pero akong tubag, kung naa man gani naka-commit og forum shopping, kana siguro ilang gbuhat na wala pa naresolve ang kaso, matingala ka nga naa na dayon nigawas nga TRO,” he said.

Guialani said he cannot commit forum shopping as the cases have separate course of action.

He pointed out that Atoc’s case seeks for administra­tive and criminal punishment, while the one he pursues only seeks for disciplina­ry action.

Guialani also said that Moreno’s camp never explained where the P79 million went.

“Klaro kaayo nga namakak sila, sige silag ingon nga na clear na, pero nganung dili na maprove asa ang kwarta nipadulong.”

Guialani said he is positive that the Office of the President will favor his petition for preventive suspension, saying it is clear that Moreno caused irrepairab­le damage to the people of Cagayan de Oro.

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