FORMER Cebu City Vice Mayor Donaldo “Dondon” Hontiveros has denied Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s claims regarding the P120 million purchase of television sets for the Palarong Pambansa. Some of these TVs were reportedly soaked in floodwaters following a heavy downpour last July 16, 2025.
In a statement released on Saturday, July 26, 2025, Hontiveros asserted that Osmeña’s accusation is “false and misleading.” Osmeña, accompanied by City Councilor Harold Go and former city councilor Joy Augustus Young, inspected the damaged televisions on Friday, July 25.
Hontiveros clarified that the television units in question were not intended for the 2024 Palaro. Instead, he stated they were procured under the Department of Education’s (DepEd) computerization program, meant for distribution to public schools to enhance digital learning.
He further explained that the TV units actually used during the Palaro were purchased at DepEd’s request to support Cebu City’s hosting of the event. These units were deployed in monitoring rooms, allowing the public and media to follow the games.
Hontiveros stressed that the procurement process was “transparent, lawful and approved by the Local School Board through the Office of the Mayor.”
“My role was purely facilitative, with no personal discretion in the purchase,” Hontiveros affirmed. After the Palaro, these units were turned over to DepEd and stored in its warehouse.
Hontiveros attributed the damage to the affected TV sets to an “unusually severe and unexpected flood.” He also noted that former Councilor Joy Augustus Young had even acknowledged that the storage area in the basement of the DepEd Cebu City Division on Imus Ave. had never been flood-prone in the past.
Hontiveros expressed disappointment over Osmeña’s “hasty” accusation of graft without verifying the facts, adding that he welcomes any investigation to clear his name. While he respects Osmeña due to their families’ historical ties, Hontiveros said that this “reckless accusation has regrettably eroded that respect.” He urged public officials to “act responsibly and base their statements on truth, not politics.”
“I have no desire to engage in a word war — that’s not who I am — but I believe it is only right to defend my name and the work I have done, as well as the efforts I continue to make even outside of public service,” Hontiveros said.
Hontiveros concluded his statement with a birthday greeting for Osmeña.
On Friday, July 25, Osmeña raised the possibility of graft after at least 16 55-inch LED televisions were found submerged in floodwaters. These TV units are believed to be excess equipment from the 2024 Palaro.
Young had previously said that the TVs were initially stored in a flood-prone warehouse in Barangay Labangon but were later moved to the DepEd Cebu City Division’s basement due to a lack of space. The basement also houses the Division Health & Nutrition Clinic, which was also flooded. / EHP