Complainant: Docs vs Leonardia authentic

RETIRED police officer Victor Eduardo vouched recently before the Ombudsman that the documents he submitted are all authentic.

Eduardo is the complainant in the extortion and direct bribery case he filed against Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, Bids and Awards Committee officials and close associates of the top city executive.

Eduardo was in Iloilo City late last week upon the invitation of the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol for clarificatory questioning centered on the numbered cash vouchers, bank statements and checks bearing the names of Leonardia and close associates who allegedly received SOP money amounting to more than P5.6 million from contractor Mary Anne Galeno of Galecon Construction Inc.

Galecon, represented by Galeno, the company’s executive vice president and general manager, won the Banago and Mandalagan Bridge projects of the Bacolod City Government.

Eduardo said he was questioned by Carla Juris-Tanco, acting director of the Public Assistant and Corruption Prevention Office, an arm of the Ombudsman, on the authenticity of the documents for criminal and administrative cases.

He prayed for the suspension and prosecution of the respondents for committing corrupt and criminal practices that are gross violation of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft law.