DILG serves 90-day suspension order to mayor of Bacolod City

BACOLOD CITY—The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) finally served the Sandiganbayan’s order suspending Mayor Monico Puentevella for 90 days on a graft case involving the alleged overprice in the purchase of computers and software packages using his pork barrel when he was then a legislator.

The antigraft court’s Fourth Division denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Puentevella and upheld its Sept. 28 resolution ordering his preventive suspension.

Puentevella and two others were accused of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019) in connection with the purchase of P26 million worth of information technology packages for public schools from 2001 to 2006 through his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) as congressman.

IT packages

The packages consisted of computer units, compact discs, instructional materials and seminar workshops.

Regional director Anthony Nuyda and two other DILG officials served the suspension order at Puentevella’s house on Monday. The mayor was prepared for it and that there were no problems, Nuyda said.

Vice Mayor Greg Gasataya took his oath as acting mayor before Judge Montano Medel of the Municipal Trial Circuit Court Branch 2 at the Bacolod City Government Center late Monday afternoon. Councilor El Cid Familiaran, the top councilor, was sworn in as vice mayor.

Gasataya and Familiaran are running for congressman and vice mayor, respectively, under the Nationalist People’s Coalition-Grupo Progreso led by Bacolod Rep. Evelio Leonardia.

No control over witnesses

Earlier, Puentevella argued that there was no need to suspend him because he had no control over the prosecution witnesses and evidence. He told the Sandiganbayan that he was charged in his capacity as congressman and not as mayor.

No TRO

The Sandiganbayan cited Section 13 of RA 3019, which makes mandatory suspension of any incumbent pubic official pending criminal prosecution under valid information for any offense involving fraud.

It also pointed out that the Supreme Court had not issued any temporary restraining order or any preliminary injunction that would stop them from proceeding. Puentevella has a pending petition for certiorari in the Supreme Court, questioning the validity of the information filed against him.