TALISAY City officials have defied the order of Mayor Johnny De los Reyes to withhold part of their salaries as refund for the P29.4 million that was spent on fertilizers and computers over a decade ago.
Expressing their apologies to De los Reyes, city treasurer Emma Macuto and city accountant Viluzminda Villarante explained in a letter that they have appealed their case before the Supreme Court (SC) and allowing the deductions would mean acceptance of guilt and stop them from questioning the decision of the Commission on Audit (COA).
“Hope you can understand our side, Mayor, for we understand also your side, although despite this political conflict in which we have no role, we continue to support your administration,” they said in their letter.
Mayor De los Reyes said he understands the decision of Macuto and Villarante. He said he will report the matter to the COA and let the agency decide.
COA found the P29.4 million purchase of computers and liquid fertilizers in 2005 as overpriced and directed De los Reyes to demand a refund from former mayors Eduardo Gullas and Socrates Fernandez, Macuto, Villarante and 10 other officials, including two who are no longer in the city government’s employ. In their letter, Macuto and Villarante described the COA ruling as “one-sided.”
Other officials who received their half-month salaries in full on Feb. 29 were Office of the Building Official (OBO) chief Ariel Araw-araw and assistant city engineer Gamaliel Vicente Jr.
City Councilor Socrates Fernandez, for his part, said he cannot receive his salary since he was suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman for three months.
Other officials who were asked to refund were city agriculturist Rene Galado, city budget officer Edgar Mabunay, city engineer Audie Bacasmas, assistant city registrar Emely Cabrera, Government Services Office head Joan Vebar and Storekeeper 1 Melanie Lavador-Caballero.
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