THE lawyers for City Hall officials facing administrative charges in relation to the P20,000 calamity aid case filed at the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) reduced their number of witnesses from 100 to 30.
One of the witnesses, City Councilor Noel Wenceslao, testified that he cannot recall where the P20,000 calamity aid was sourced from.
“I cannot remember if it was taken from the disaster or general fund. Since it’s a budget ordinance, it’s a standard procedure that we would have a budget hearing,” he told lawyer Benjamin Militar, who represented complainant Reymelio Delute.
The last day of the hearing is scheduled today with Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella set to testify.
DILG hearing officer Isidro Barrios III said the presentation of evidence will be finished.
“After (today) I’ll give them (the respondents) 10 days to file their formal offer of evidence and memorandum,” he said.
All evidences identified by their witnesses will be submitted to the DILG along with the comment of the complainant.
“They (complainant) will just incorporate (their) comment on the memorandum,” Barrios said.
After both parties finished submitting their evidences, he will submit their recommendation to the Office of the President.
“Safe to say before Christmas we will finish the draft recommendation. The Office of the President may or may not follow our recommendations, but they are usually given weight,” Barrios said.
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