Thursday, February 08, 2007
Bing gets new 'headache'
By Erwin Ambo S. Delilan
BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia admitted Wednesday that the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) has been ignoring his appeal to release 15 percent of the P400-million loan the City Government made for the new government center.
Leonardia said he intends to use the amount as mobilization fund.
He pointed out that it was stipulated in the memorandum of agreement between the City and the bank that the LBP has the right to withhold the release of the City's loan when a case is filed before the court.
Earlier, a civil case was filed against Leonardia, the city councilors, Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) officials and Hilmarc's Construction Corporation by Ben Solilapsi, Miguel Carriedo, Jesus Lazaro, Allan Calilan and Abraham Tingson.
The petitioners claimed that the project is overpriced and disadvantageous for the City and the people. Their petition is still pending before the sala of Judge Rodney Bolonia at Branch 44 of the Bacolod Regional Trial Court.
Leonardia said he also received reports that another case will follow after Solilapsi's.
"We are still trying to resolve this," the mayor told the City Hall media, adding that he already have a legal team working on the matter.
He said he had already asked some top officials of the LBP regarding the problem, but no one can give him an exact answer.
Asked if he already informed LBP President Gary Teves on this situation, Leonardia said, "Not yet. But I have a legal man tasked to talk to Teves."
Hilmarc's Legal Counsel Rogelio Peig refused to comment on the recent development except by saying, "We will cross the bridge when we get there."
Peig admitted though that their company already delivered P30 million worth of construction materials and equipment in Bacolod.
Let the court decide
Asked for comment, former vice mayor Ramiro Garcia, one of the vocal critics of the project, said since a case is already filed, "let the court decide on it."
Garcia said his group, the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP), is no longer interested in filing a case against the mayor on the project.
He added, "We've already manifested our concerns and that's enough for us."For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Iloilo. (February 8, 2007 issue)
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