Ombudsman asked to probe fund use in Puerto Princesa

Puerto Princesa City Mayor Lucilo Bayron could face graft and grave misconduct charges after a complaint was filed against him at the Office of the Ombudsman.

Citing a Commission on Audit (COA) report, a certain Mansueto Fuentes called on the Ombudsman to investigate numerous irregularities in Bayron’s use of public funds.

Efforts to get the side of Bayron for the last two days have been futile.

In a 38-page complaint filed at the Office of the Ombudsman on March 12, Fuentes said that based on a December 2017 COA report, COA regional director Ma. Corazon S. Gomez found 28 instances of major violations of COA rules and circulars by the city government.

Citing the same COA report, Fuentes said Bayron, as mayor, invested P1.7 million in time deposits instead of using the amount for programs and projects.

Another P2.5 million in loans were acquired “without proper debt management policies” and a total of P147.8 million in infrastructure projects under the Kalsada Program was spent in violation of the government procurement law.

The COA report also enumerated other discrepancies in Puerto Princesa’s finances, including at least P107 million in unliquidated cash advances to city officials and a cash deficit of P129 million.