• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The House committee on public accounts has invited Silay City Mayor Joedith Gallego and his fellow city officials to attend an inquiry on the alleged irregularities in the procurement process of the P1.4-billion infrastructure projects on Nov. 11.
In a letter addressed to Gallego dated Oct. 24, Abang Lingkod partylist Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano, the committee chair, said that he requested the mayor’s presence at the hearing.
Also invited were the city administrator, members of the Bids and Award Committee, officials of the City Engineering, Accounting and Treasury Offices, and Office of the Building Official.
Paduano, who is the designated caretaker of the Negros Occidental third district, also extended his invitation to the officials of the City Heritage District Administration Office in connection with the issue of certain infrastructure projects encroaching on designated heritage zones.
Gallego confirmed on Tuesday, Oct. 29 that he received the invitation to appear at the congressional inquiry.
The inquiry was originally scheduled Nov. 5, which marks the Cinco de Noviembre or Negros Day, a special non-working holiday in Negros Occidental, including Silay City, which has lined up several activities for the celebration.
Still, Gallego said he will attend the hearing to clarify all the allegations against him.
He earlier maintained that there is no basis on the accusations, stressing that “everything we do, goes through a process and complies with the law.”
Gallego, who is seeking reelection, said he is being subjected to trial by publicity and political harassment.
Paduano, in his privilege speech at the House of Representatives on Sept. 9, claimed of alleged misuse of funds by the Silay City government, involving the repair, rehabilitation and renovation of the city public market, with a budget of P300 million and construction of the new City Hall worth P500 million. | GB