ANOTHER case was filed by the One Cebu party yesterday against Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III and 14 others in relation to the release of P40 million to the towns of Tuburan and Barili last month.
Represented by their lawyer Mel Abnir Amadora, One Cebu asked the Ombudsman-Visayas to investigate the governor and the other respondents whom they alleged were liable for malversation of public funds.
In its complaint, One Cebu claimed that Davide released P40 million supposedly for the beautification project of Provincial Board Member Grecilda Sanchez-Zaballero in Cebu’s third district.
One Cebu alleged that the local government units that received the amount were headed by political supporters or allies of Davide, a gubernatorial candidate of Liberal Party (LP), and Zaballero, a congressional representative candidate in the district.
Amadora said some elected officials in the third district claimed they did not see any beautification projects in the barangays which received the amount from Capitol.
Also named respondents in the complaint were Zaballero, acting provincial treasurer Emmanuel Guial, Tuburan Mayor Democrito Diamante, Tuburan treasurer Judith Jumao-as, Barili Mayor Teresito Marinas and Barili treasurer Gamaliel Riconalla.
Last Monday, One Cebu also filed a similar complaint against several officials of Asturias town. Cebu Daily News tried but was unable to contact Davide for his side on the case.
Davide earlier said the filing of the cases was a “desperate move” on One Cebu’s part and he had nothing to fear from it. He said he would answer it in the appropriate time.