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Saturday, September 27, 2003
Treņas urged to prosecute ABE
By Ronilo Ladrido Pamonag
LAWYER Romeo Gerochi has urged Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treņas to file criminal charges against Ace Builders and Enterprises (ABE), contractor of the City's P125-million housing project in Pavia, for allegedly violating its contract with the City Government.
"As a resident and tax payer in the City of Iloilo, I hereby demand that the City Government, through your office, immediately file the appropriate criminal action for violation of Presidential Decree (PD) 1759 against the owner of Ace Builders, not later than 15 days from your receipt of this letter," Gerochi said in a letter to the mayor.
He said he sent the letter to the Office of the Mayor Froday morning. Copies were furnished the Offices of the City Treasurer and Engineer and the City Council.
In his letter, Gerochi cited Section 1 of PD 1759, which states that, "Any public official who, by reason of the duties of his office, shall consent, or through abandonment or negligence, permit the contractor or sub-contractor to commit the violations mentioned in section 1 hereof, shall suffer the penalty of 12 years to life imprisonment and perpetual disqualification to hold any public office."
Section 1 provides that "contractors or subcontractors who violate material provisions of contracts involving public works projects, either as to materials, quality and quantity of work, resulting to the prejudice of the government shall suffer imprisonment from 12 years to life."
Gerochi further noted, "(t)he Office of the City Engineer has already made a finding that there was a violation of the provisions of the contract by Ace Builders. Said act of Ace Builders constitutes violation of PD 1759."
The matter, he said, "has become a public scandal which has been viewed with deepest concern by residents of the City of Iloilo and has likewise resulted to continuing prejudice and damage to City funds."
Gerochi, who already announced his congressional bid for next year's elections, denied allegations that he is politicking.
"This is good politics," he said. "Well, that is the law. The law may be hard, but it is the law."
It was reported earlier that negotiations between Task Force Housing and Ace Builders and Enterprises has been stalled after the death of Task Force chair Saturnino Gonzalez.
The last round of talks between the Task Force and the ABE was held two weeks ago. During that meeting, the ABE agreed to the amended accomplishment report of the Commission on Audit (COA).
Treņas said he is still looking for someone to replace Gonzalez.
(September 27, 2003 issue)
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