Salceda on malversation complaint: ‘Facts, records will clear me’

“MY conscience is clear and the facts and records will clear me.”

Albay Governor Joey Salceda issued this statement after a malversation complaint was filed at the Office of the Ombudsman for the alleged ghost deliveries of aid sourced from the Malampaya funds during the Mayon Volcano eruption in 2009.

“I can’t be glad that a case has been filed against me, the first ever in my entire political life of 17 years and on my last year. I assure all Albayanos that
I will not allow it to slow down our programs,” Salceda said in a statement Tuesday.

According to a complaint filed by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) and other personalities, Salceda and his social welfare and development office head Yolanda Guanzon are liable for malversation of P47 million in funds the provincial government received.

“Dr. Cedric Daep (APSEMO Chief) together with our APSEMO statistician Cristina C. Santos, Yollie Guanzon (PSWDO) and Lilybeth Reforsado (Provincial Budget Officer) will publicly account for the P47 million,” he said.

According to her, all relief goods in times of calamities procured and inspected were in accordance with law and they have been distributed in accordance with the distribution list approved by Albay Public Safety & Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) and thereafter released by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO).

“Thus, all funds including fund transfers from the National
Government are fully accounted for and there are no such ghost deliveries,” he said. NC