OPPOSITION leader Jonathan Guardo said yesterday that he is willing to answer the charges for malversation of public funds when he was Cebu Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Cebusoc) chairman.

Ceby City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, who is running against Guardo for the south district congressional seat, distributed to the media yesterday copies of the complaint for malversation of public funds against the businessman, but he would not say if he will use the documents during the campaign.

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Osmeña declined from discussing the case filed at the Manila Prosecutor’s Office lest he is sued for subjudice.

“I don’t know if I can use it or not (in the campaign) kay ma-subjudice ta... I cannot comment on the merits of the case, I’m only stating what is there. I’m not adding or subtracting anything from it,” he said.

In his news conference yesterday, the mayor gave reporters a bound copy of the complaint the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) filed against Guardo last Sept. 25.

“The case is self-explanatory, you just read it... They filed a case against him so let him answer that in court. He said he already accounted for the P10 million but these people (PSC) are saying something else,” he said.

Although he expected Osmeña to use the case as an issue against him during the campaign, Guardo is surprised that the mayor would go to the extent of having the court documents bound and distributing it to the media.

“I already expected him to take advantage of the case and use it in his propaganda because he has no other issue to use against me. I hope he will be more creative in coming up with other issues,” the businessman said.

The complaint for violation of Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code against Guardo was in connection with the P10-million financial assistance given by the government for Cebu’s hosting of six sports events in the 23rd SEA Games in 2005.

Lawyer Paul Vega, PSC chief of legal affairs, alleged that Guardo “misappropriated and misused” the amount handed by the PSC to Cebusoc last Sept. 15, 2005 for the repair and refurbishing of facilities in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Danao.

But Guardo said in an interview yesterday that Cebusoc has properly liquidated the P10-million fund used for their operational expenses of the event.

He also said that he is ready to answer the complaint in court, and he is just waiting for the subpoena.

“After the SEA Games, six months after, they came up with a resolution that the money should be used for infrastructure, buildings or facilities and not for the operations.

But what building can we build with P10 million? The money was used to make the games a successful event, which we achieved.

Wala namo giwaldas, wala namo gibulsa (We did not squander the funds. We did not pocket the money),” Guardo added.