Oliva told to return city firearm

The head of the Cebu City  Government Services Office yesterday asked former city treasurer Ofelia Oliva to return  the 9mm pistol issued to her.

Rolando Ardosa said Oliva already accounted for all other property and equipment under her office  and turned these over   to her successor, Acting City Treasurer Tessie Camarillo.

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima earlier denied Mayor Michael Rama’s request  for the fourth extension of  Oliva’s stay   in Cebu City.

Purisima gave in to the request of  Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district to replace Oliva, whom he said was overstaying.

Osmeña earlier said  he opposed Oliva’s continued stay in the city because of “ridiculous” and “alarming” transactions she entered into  last year.

Oliva released a P5-million cash advance for street lights in December 2010 and requested a P20- million travel budget for her office.

Rama said Osmeña should have raised his concerns to him. He said it only  further  justified his departure from the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan party.

Rama said while Osmeña accuses Oliva, Osmeña’s administration  had  anomalies like  the purchase of refurbished garbage trucks at brand-new prices from Pasajero motors and substandard  barangay projects by  contractor E.M. Arante Construction.

The Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas is investigating the purchase of garbage trucks.

“Let things be, a new Ombudsman is coming soon, anyway,” Rama said.

City Legal Officer Joseph Bernaldez and City Administrator Jose Mari Poblete finished the  Arante probe  and just need the  investigating team to sign the report, Poblete told the mayor.

Rama directed Poblete to furnish him a copy of their report before the week ends.

“Probably the City Council will give it (the report) to the Ombudsman,” Rama said. /Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac