MABALACAT CITY -- The city's legal officer has described as a "political ploy" the case of misuse of funds filed by two councilors against Mayor Crisostomo Garbo.

Lawyer Emmanuel Ignacio, the city's legal officer, told SunStar Pampanga that it is premature to accuse Garbo of technical malversation of public funds without a report from the Commission on Audit (COA).

The city's legal officer issued the statement in reaction to reports that Councilors Jerry Basilio and Rogelio "Jeng" Yumul filed on January 4, 2018 a case of illegal use of public funds against the mayor before the Office of the Ombudsman.

He said Garbo did not yet receive a formal copy of the complaint as of Wednesday, January 9.

"Those funds are generic, they are not thrust funds [intended for specific purpose]," Ignacio said.

He also denied allegations that the funds appropriated for the job order (JO) personnel were used to compensate special rate employees who receive P50,000 per month each.

Garbo earlier blamed the City Council for the unpaid salaries of the JO workers

The mayor claimed the P200-million supplemental budget he proposed to the city council will be used to fund his administration's health programs and job order employees' salaries.