Friday, October 26, 2007 Ex-vice mayor confident to win NGC case By Clara Mae H. Cielo
FORMER Bacolod vice mayor Renecito Novero expressed confidence Thursday on the dismissal of the two additional cases filed against him, among others with the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas in relation to the controversial new government center contract.
In a phone interview, Novero said, "I believe that the processes have been observed in the construction of the new government center so I think nothing was violated...and nothing was overpriced."
Novero, along with Mayor Evelio Leonardia, several councilors, officials of Philippine National Bank, and Hilmarc's Construction Corporation (HCC) president Efren Canlas, was charged with both criminal and administrative cases before the Ombudsman-Visayas by retired police officer Victor Eduardo.
In its order dated September 6, 2007, a copy of which was received by Eduardo and furnished to Sun.Star-Bacolod, Ombudsman Inspector Edgardo Canton gave the respondents only 10 days to submit their counter-affidavits and controverting evidence in reply to the criminal and administrative complaints filed against them.
Aside from these, two more additional charges--still criminal and administrative--were also filed against the same respondents.
Novero, however, maintained that the cases do not have merit like the other cases filed against them still on the same issue.
"There is nothing wrong in the construction of the new government center. Therefore, nothing to fear," Novero reiterated.
The Ombudsman, in its order, stressed that failure of the respondents to comply with the order within the period prescribed shall be deemed a waiver of their right to present a counter affidavit and the investigation shall proceed according to the existing rules.
