NEGROS Occidental Second District Board Member Salvador Escalante Jr. said on Monday the Provincial Board will wait for the result of the investigation on the construction of the Negros First Animal Hub at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City.
The probe on the structure, which didn’t undergo the bidding process, was conducted by the Investigating Panel formed by Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr.
Escalante said they already have partial information as to who gave the clearance of the construction and who made the layout of the building, but he did not divulge any details pending the investigation.
Escalante also said Marañon has ordered lawyer Mary Ann Lamis of the Provincial Legal Office, who heads the investigating team, to hasten the probe.
"The governor wants a speedy investigation because he could not wait any longer because he does not want his name to be dragged on the issue,” Escalante said.
He also said the PB may also review the investigation submitted by Lamis.
"Hopefully, the investigation will be transparent and we will be satisfied so there will be no need for the SP to conduct a parallel investigation if we will be contented with the investigation result. We do not want to pre-empt the investigation,” Escalante stressed.
It was unfortunate that the issue came out during the 25th Panaad Festival when everybody was busy, he lamented.
Escalante also said the Provincial Government was not able to use the Animal Hub during the Panaad Festival and that the activities of the Provincial Veterinary Office were held outside the said building.
Meanwhile, a source of SunStar Bacolod said Marañon is contemplating to demolish the controversial building.
Eva Blanco Resoor, who admitted to being the supplier of the materials for the construction of the building, said she takes responsibility for the building and that she will just pay the contractor on an installment basis. P4 million was already spent for the construction of the building.
She admitted to having no documents and nobody from the Capitol gave her the clearance for the construction of the building.