City Hall ombudsman: Nothing wrong with soliciting water, bread
FIVE Cebu City Hall employees including Mayor Michael Rama’s secretary Belinda Navasquez may be cleared in the controversy over solicitation letters sent to companies asking for water and bread.
Lawyer Johnson Hontanosas, resident ombudsman of City Hall, said he saw nothing illegal in it.
“Where is the anomaly there? I don’t see any any reason, any cause of action, no intent of fraud or intent to gain for personal benefit,” he said.
This followed an inquiry where Navasquez and four others were asked clarificatory questions.
The verbal inquiry yesterday was held in an open session .
Navasquez confirmed that she had written letters asking two companies for bread and bottled water for the June 12 Independence Day celebration as snacks for 5,000 students who performed field demonstrations.
“The city had no budget for bread and water. There were sponsors, but Nature’s Spring and Gardenia bakery asked for letter requests. Misuwat gyud ko. (I really wrote them),” she said.
She said this was for the school children so they wouldn’t faint during the drills, not for City Hall personnel and that Rhea Mar Angtud, head of the Department of Education-Cebu City Division had asked for help to provide snacks for the students.
But Navasquez said she could not remember signing a solicitation letter for bottled water to be distributed during Mayor Michael Rama’s forthcoming State of the City Address on July 4.
She said the signature on the letter posted on Facebook by City Councilor Sisinio Andales looks like hers, but the secretary couldn’t recall releasing the letter or signing it.
The other City Hall personnel involved in the controversy are Felomina Aracan, Carlota Paglinawan, Hazel Jimenez, Hazel Mandal.
Andales said the letter violated Republic Act 6713 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, which lists improper solicitations as a prohibited act.
Under “Solicitiation or acceptance of gifts” in section 7 (d), public officials and employees shall not solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value from any person in the course of their official duties or in connection with any operation being regulated by, or any transaction which may be affected by functions of their office.”
But in the opinion of City Hall’s resident ombudsman Hontanosas, there was “no report or any accusation made about any conversion of whatevery goods to the personal benefit of the concerned employees.”
“I would appreciate hearing something else where the accusations are more serious that mere intrigue,” he said.
He said that even if it’s true the mayor’s office issued the letter, the letter itself was not a violation of law.
He said the letter cited by by Andales stated that “this bottled water will serve Cebu City constituents and other guests who will attend the SOCA” and refers to establishments that want to donate as being part of “Private-People-Partnernship.”
In a phone interview, Andales stood by his opiinon that City Hall made an improper solicitation.
“Well if I were asked, there is a violation. But he investigated it and that’s his findings and I cannot do anything about it,” the councilor said.
He said no one is barred from filing a complaint against the mayor with the Ombudsman-Visayas.
“At least Navasquez confirmed and authenticated the solicitation letter. It is a matter of interpretation whether or not there’s a violation of Section 7 (of R.A. 6713),” Andales said.
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