Legal office backs inquiry on foundation

AN inquiry into the complaints by an urban poor group against the foundation headed by former city administrator Francisco Fernandez was pushed by the Cebu City Legal Office last week.

City Legal Officer Joseph Bernaldez said he wants the Kamagayan Neighborhood and Homeowners Association (KNHAI) to substantiate their complaint against the Pantambayayong Foundation with documents.

In letters to Mayor Michael Rama and Councilor Alvin Dizon, who heads the council’s housing committee, Bernaldez said the allegations that Pagtambayayong collected mortgage fees from the settlers amounting to P2 million must be verified.

Danilo Lim Jr., Belinda Lim, Adella Lim, and Elizabeth Taburada, KNHAI officials said their payments were not properly accounted and reflected in the records of the Department of Welfare of Urban Poor (DWUP).

The city legal office wants to have a copy of the investigation report of the  local housing board that conducted an investigation on the case.

DWUP chief Collin Rosell said all documents including receipts from Pagtambayayong Foundation have been gathered.

Rosell earlier recommended the filing of criminal and civil charges against Pagtambayayong.

Fernandez, Pagtambayayong president, said the charges being readied by DWUP and the City Legal Office stemmed from the foundation’s filing of administrative charges against Rama for ordering clearing operations in Mahiga Creek without aid to the settlers.

Rama denied Fernandez’s claim that the charges to be filed against the foundation were done in retaliation to the civil suit filed against him. Correspondent Fatrick Tabada