Bacolod mayor to Ombudsman: No reason to investigate me

BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia said on Monday, November 14, there is no reason for the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate him on his trip to the United States to join the Team Pacquiao.

“I don’t think that the Ombudsman has any reason to investigate me because it is a matter of friendship between me and Senator Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Pacquiao,” said Leonardia, who returned to Bacolod last weekend.

The mayor’s statement came after Ombudsman Conchita-Carpio Morales said that Philippine National Police chief Ronald de la Rosa will be investigated for possible violation of Republic Act 6713 or Code of Ethical Standards for Public Officials for going to Las Vegas to watch the Manny Pacquiao-Jessie Vargas fight last November 6.

Pacquiao paid for the airfare and hotel accommodations of De la Rosa and other public officials, and the PNP chief himself had admitted that Pacquiao sponsored his and his family’s trip.

Leonardia said: “For me, whatever it is in terms of our attendance, reconnected facilities, and amenities is a personal matter. I emphasized that no government funds had ever been involved.”

“For the record, since I became a mayor of Bacolod in 1995 until now, I have not spent a single centavo of the city’s government funds in any of my trips abroad, including my trips to join Pacquiao,” he said.

“I feel that it is a private matter and that is not of public interest. As long as no government funds are involved. I think that is what our people would want to know,” the mayor added.

Leonardia, who held the Philippine flag during the Pacquiao-Vargas fight, said that it was a very interesting fight, and their visit in Las Vegas also made them optimistic because they met with several Bacolodnons in the area.

Leonardia, along with Representative Greg Gasataya, discussed some projects for the city with the group.

Gasataya had earlier said that he spent his own money to witness the fight of Pacquiao against Vargas.

He added that his trip to Las Vegas was not only for the boxing event.