THE Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed the administrative complaint against Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas for alleged misconduct during the Covid-19 pandemic, citing a lack of substantial evidence.
The dismissal of the administrative complaint against Treñas was ordered by Jose Melandro H. Gacia II Jr., who held the position of Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer II in Cebu City.
The complaint, filed by Jun A. Capulot, a broadcaster and former Iloilo City Councilor Plaridel C. Nava II on April 4, 2022, accused Treñas of "ostentatious and immoderate" spending during the pandemic.
The complainants accused Treñas of ostentatious spending, including a P1.75 billion loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) to repair the city's public market and construct a parking building, purchasing 15 new motor vehicles for the Sangguniang Panlungsod, and procuring excessive quantities of Covid-19 vaccines, which led to the wastage of at least P14 million.
They claimed he influenced the city council to approve his request for a supplemental budget (Supplemental Budget No. 1), which covered, among other items, the salaries for newly created plantilla, additional job hires, and executive assistants.
In response, Treñas denied the complainants' accusations and confirmed the validity of the loan contract with the Iloilo City Government, which was approved by the Finance Committee and city council.
"The loan was to fund the rehabilitation of the Jaro Big Public Market, Arevalo Public Market and Lapaz Public Market," Treñas said in his counter-affidavit.
The mayor emphasized that the funds were used for Covid-19 response and that the local government's efforts were recognized with the Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award in the 2021 Search for Outstanding Government Workers because of his efforts.
"The public funds disbursed were used in the implementation of various disease control and containment activities in order to manage the transmission of the Covid- 19 virus," Treñas said.
Treñas, in his counter-affidavit, said "the purchase of the motor vehicles passed through public bidding and was approved or authorized by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). The motor vehicles would be used in transporting personnel and equipment to remote areas with rugged road conditions."
According to the ombudsman, there is no evidence that the purchase of the motor vehicles was illegal. The purchase of the motor vehicles passed through public bidding and was also authorized by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) through Undersecretary Marivel Sacendoncillo.
Treñas claimed that he did not influence the city council's decisions regarding the supplemental budget.
"The ordinance for the supplemental budget was reviewed and approved by the Department of Budget and Management," Treñas said.
The Ombudsman's ruling affirmed that Treñas did not violate any laws or rules when securing the loan and purchasing the vehicles. It noted the absence of clear evidence that the Covid-19 vaccines were wasted and that Treñas influenced the city council improperly.
It said that there was no basis to hold Treñas administratively liable for misconduct, grave abuse of authority, or grave misconduct. The complaint was subsequently "dismissed for lack of substantial evidence” on February 27, 2023.
The Office of the Ombudsman reviewed the case and found insufficient evidence to support the allegations against Treñas after careful consideration.
The Mayor's Office received a letter of dissmisal from the Ombudsman Office on October 10, 2023. <b>(SunStar Philippines)</b>