Tuesday, January 08, 2008 COA to start probe on People's Park mess By Carlo P. Mallo
THE Commission on Audit (COA) is creating a technical committee to look into the alleged anomalies in the construction of Davao's newest landmark, the People's Park.
Davao City Administrator Wendel Avisado said Monday that the technical committee is already being formed and that investigation may start anytime soon.
The controversy over the construction of the People's Park surfaced after the killing of broadcaster and columnist Fernando "Batman" Lintuan on December 24.
Prior to his death, Lintuan had been reportedly hitting alleged corruption in the construction of the park, particularly in the procurement of the planted trees.
Avisado maintained some prominent families in the city donated the procurement of the trees in the park and that it was at no cost for the City Government.
The inquiry to be conducted by COA's probe team would cover expenditures over the construction, the labor, and the materials used for the P72 million park.
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte took a leave of absence to give way to COA's investigation on the alleged anomaly on the construction of People's Park. He said he would only come back once the COA finishes its investigation.
