Thursday, January 25, 2007 Councilor bats for ouster of 2 City Hall officials
ILOILO City Councilor Eduardo Peñaredondo called for the ouster of two City Hall employees -- City Legal Office (CLO) Chief Atty. Edgar Gil and Budget Office Chief Ninda Atinado for ignorance of their roles and obligations. Peñaredondo said in Wednesday's City Council session.
He narrated that the two were ignorant of their obligations as employees of the City Government.
Peñaredondo said he went to Atinado regarding the allotment of money for the City's purchase of a 3,306 square-meter lot in So-oc, Mandurriao at P400 per square meter. As calculated, the lot costs P1.32 million.
He said the cost of the lot is lesser than the prevailing cost of the lot in the same area, which is P605 per square meter.
Peñaredondo said Mayor Jerry P. Treñas has signed the deed of sale and title for the transfer of the lot, but the release of the payment was not made because there was no allocation from the Budget Office.
Peñaredondo added that he has obtained affirmation from City Treasurer Katherine Tingson that there is available fund for this.
However, when he went to Atinado, he said she refused to sign papers that could effect the release of the money.
Further, he said he went to Gil to ask for a legal opinion on the situation, but the latter refused to give one because it involves the Budget Office.
After what happened, Peñaredondo said the two are ignorant of the law.
Councilor Perla Zulueta also hit Atinado for being tactless.
She said there was an instance when Atinado called her attention by way of a letter demanding that she report to the latter's office.
Zulueta said Atinado does not understand her duty. She added that being a City Councilor, she sits on a higher position than Atinado thus Atinado should have respected her.
Zulueta said that Atinado should have been polite in asking her to go to her office to report on anything about money. (LABB)
