• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Bacolod City Councilor Al Victor Espino said on Monday, March 17, that he will file counter charges against the complainant and other persons involved in the filing of graft and administrative complaints against him and several other city officials, including Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez.
He described the complaints filed before the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas as “malicious and politically-motivated”.
Espino, who was among the 18 respondents in the complaint filed by radio blocktimer Roger Ledesma, said that while he is willing to forgive those who filed cases against him.
“But, of course, I will retaliate,” he added.
The complaint stemmed from the city government’s purchase of 74.76 hectares in Hacienda Conchita, Barangay Granada for P971.86 million, which Ledesma claimed in his complaint, is an anomalous land banking project.
“We will get into the bottom of this because there is a conspiracy that we are uncovering. Bigger people are involved,” Espino said.
He noted that the complainant was “selective” in the filing of complaints by sparing members of the appraisal and land banking committees.
Still, Espino said that he welcomes the complaints filed against him.
“This is the only forum wherein we will determine who is telling the truth”, he said.
In a press briefing, Benitez said he has yet to receive a hard copy of the alleged complaints.
He, however, pointed out that the process in the acquisition of such property went through rigid, stringent procedures put in place by the city government.
Councilor Jude Thaddeus Sayson said that the purchase of the property was prepared for one year and six months.
“We went through the rigid process that is being given to us by the law. We followed it until the very end,” Sayson said, sharing also the sentiments of Espino and Councilor Jesus Claudio Puentevella that the “timing is really questionable.” | GB
