Monico Puentevella Is Now Facing Graft Charges Over P21-M Unliquidated Sea Games Fund
The former Bacolod Representative Monico Puentevella is now facing another graft charges on the P21.56 million unliquidated Sea Games fund.
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has transferred the P50 million fund released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the Bacolod South East Asian Games Organizing Committee (BASOC) last 2005.
On Tuesday (June 27, 2017), the Office of the Ombudsman stated that an amount of more than P21 million remained unsettled as of 2011. It also said that the unliquidated amount has been deposited to the account of Monico Puentevella.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales has approved a resolution noting that the Sea Games Fund was deposited on the personal account of the congressman. The resolution also said that Puentevella had already spent the money for his own good.
The liquidation of the documents has been rejected by the Commission on Audit (COA) because of its failure to comply with the standard procedure.
“The documents for the unliquidated amount were not approved by COA-PSC since these consisted of personal vouchers of respondent Puentevella and mere photocopies of invoices or contracts. The COA-PSC had already made demands on the respondent to settle or liquidate the financial assistance thru two letters dated 16 January 2009 and 24 March 2009. However, respondent failed to comply,” said by the Ombudsman quoted by Rappler.
Aside from the malversation of Sea Games Fund, Puentevella was also facing graft charges for alleged overpriced P26 million computer package, which was taken from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
Puentevella served as Bacolod City Mayor from 2013 to 2016 after losing the race against Mayor Evelio Leonardia. He also served as a representative of the Bacolod District for 3 terms.
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