Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III yesterday said he maintains “full trust and confidence” in Provincial Legal Officer Orvi Ortega who is doing “his best” with no hanky panky in the bids and awards committee.
“Sa akong pagtuo, wala siya’y binuang (It’s my belief that he didn’t commit any corruption),” he said.
At the same time, Davide said he would keep his hands off the conflict between the Capitol official and broadcaster-columnist Bobby Nalzaro.
Ortega called a press conference last Tuesday and threatened to sue Nalzaro for libel if he doesn’t stop making “baseless” attacks on his integrity in radio and newspaper columns over the handling of the province’s bidding of the P27 million security contract and Back Pearl Security Agency controversy.
HIS CALL
The governor said whatever plans Ortega has in his conflict with the broadcaster was “his call” and his personal business.
The broadcaster has been demanding Ortega’s resignation for embarrassing the governor with the failed bidding amid allegations of kickbacks and favoritism in the temporary deployment of Black Pearl guards after the May 30 expiry of a previous security agency.
The governor said Ortega’s next steps were his prerogative, including whether he decides to resign from the BAC.
Ortega was elected a member of the Provincial Board from 2001 to 2004, and served as Argao municipal councilor from 1998 to 2001. He was brought in as provincial legal officer in July 2013 when Davide was elected governor.
Ortega said the last straw for him in the criticisms of Nalzaro came when the broadcaster-columnist questioned his acquisition of a new Ford EcoSports SUV.
Ortega’s father later explained in the press conference that the family sold their Canter truck to help make a downpayment for a new vehicle to replace Ortega’s failing car.
Ortega said Nalzaro was also out of line in accusing him of receiving bribe money and favoring Black Pearl Security Agency and said the criticism appeared to be “a well-funded demolition” job possibly by a losing bidder or political enemies of the governor.
Nalzaro in turn challenged Ortega to make good his threat to file libel case, saying he was not favoring any security agency or being paid by any politician.
Ortega was the former BAC-General Services chairman and currently the vice chairman of the newly reorganized BAC.
Related Stories:
Capitol exec threatens to sue broadcaster over bid tirades
Glitch stalls bid: Panel finds inconsistencies in documents