Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday expressed disgust over former congressman and mayor Monico Puentevella’s claim that the late Allan Zamora “falsified documents” to harass him.
Leonardia, who initially refused to comment on the Sandiganbayan’s acquittal of Puentevella on the case involving IT Procurement Packages, said the former solon should not drag the name of the dead in his statements.
“I can comment but tingbon ko na lang. Lawig na nga storya…ang lain kay ang patay ginadalahig pa (I will answer in due time. It’s a long story…worse, he is tarnishing the name of dead),” said Leonardia, who despite a busy schedule at the Government Center, agreed for a brief interview with the Negros Now Daily.
“Gina libel nya ang patay nga tawo. Wala sya respeto sa patay nga ang iya negosyo mga patay man (He is libelling a dead man. He has no respect with the dead when his business deals with the dead),” Leonardia added, referring to Puentevella’s memorial park business.
In its 34-page decision, the Sandigan’s Second Division pointed out that there was no malice nor partiality on the part of Puentevella in the procurement of the ICT package.
“Accused Puentevella was not part of the entity that produced the IT packages of way direct contracting,” the decision said.
The decision was penned by Associate Justice Oscar Herrera and concurred by Associate Justices Michael Frederick Musugi and Bayani Jacinto.
Certifying it was Sandigan Presiding Judge Amparo Cabotaje-Tang.
“He (Puentevella) was not a member of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of DepEd Region VI. His participation was limited to financing the procurement of the IT packages through his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF),” the Second Division of the Sandiganbayan added.
In a press statement issued to NND, Puentevella said that Leonardia initiated the harassment against him and Zamora, who was then the Bacolod City legal officer, falsified legal papers.
He added that Leonardia’s eventual counsel Joselito Bayatan and Vicente Petierre “did everything to throw the book at me”.
Bayatan, despite his text replies telling NND to call later, never answered his phone after eight attempts. Around 6 p.m., he texted he was in a Zoom conference.
On Wednesday, NND sought a statement from the mayor, through the City Information Office, but was eventually told to interview two barangay captains. (The paper decided not to contact the two officials, whose names NND is withholding, as they were not apparently parties to the case).
On Nov.16, the Sandiganbayan acquitted Puentevella and co-accused Jessie Garcia over the alleged overpriced procurement of ICT Packages for different public schools during his term as Bacolod congressman.
Puentevella was charged in February 2007 for violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and served a 90-day suspension as city mayor. – NAB
