Ombud asked not to nitpick on fund drive

RATHER than nitpick on Cebu City Hall’s “Piso Mo, Hospital Ko” fund-raising drive, the Ombudsman-Visayas should go after suspected corrupt officials instead.

“I’m sure the Ombudsman Visayas has good intentions.  But let’s not focus on the process. I’m sure that Cebu City Hall’s legal officers will find a way to comply with the legal requirements,” Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano said yesterday.

The Senate majority leader, who visited Cebu City yesterday and earlier donated P100,000 to the fund-raising campaign, said the focus should be on building “a world class hospital” in the city that’s partly funded from donations.

Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol earlier called the Cebu City government’s attention to secure a permit from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for their fund-raising campaign.

Apostol said guidelines should also be imposed to track and account for the cash donations which already reached P8 million.

Cayetano said he is  relying on Rama to make good on his  assurance that donations will be properly accounted for. Cayetano and his wife Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano earlier confirmed their commitment to help the Cebu City government raise funds to build a new hospital building for Cebu City.

The Taguig City government also donated half a million pesos to the fundraiser.

Cayetano said he is also lobbying for financial aid to the CCMC to Health Secretary Enrique Ona.