Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday said he believes the personal attacks against him by the group that calls itself Samahang Bikitima ni Mayor Bing by a former broadcaster and a former executive assistant of the city are tainted with politics.

The group was formed by former executive assistant Reynaldo “Butch” Ebreo and former broadcaster Romy Niere who said they will do everything to prevent Leonardia from becoming congressman of Bacolod, alleging that there is corruption in his administration.

Leonardia said Ebreo had been recommended to him by a certain Boy Palo, who is now a close-in staff of Bacolod Rep. Anthony Golez Jr., although he was hesitant to accept him at first after he allegedly lost his jobs with Negros Navigation and Pepsi Cola. He cannot say that there is no politician behind him, he said.

Ebreo earlier said he has no ax to grind against the mayor because his casuals were not paid and that there is no politician behind him.

On the claims of Ebreo that he has documents to prove alleged anomalies committed in City Hall, Leonardia said he should have exposed them when he was still with the city before, if his allegations are true.

“PROJECTS”

On the other hand, Leonardia said Niere had requested for projects which were not granted to him because these have to undergo bidding. These are the cementing of roads and the Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras which are being planned for the government center.

“He has known me for a long time and he knows what is happening in City Hall, and because he was eyeing some business from City Hall, he was praising me to high heavens, but because I did not grant his requests, so he is now trying to portray me as a bad person,” Leonardia said.

Leonardia said they cannot give the CCTV project to Niere since this also has to undergo a bidding process as required of all government projects.

Niere had denied that he has any CCTV projects with City Hall during a press conference Tuesday and alleged that these were projects of the mayor’s personal secretary and a cousin.

All throughout his terms as mayor, Leonardia said, he has never committed any abuses, contrary to the claims of Niere, he said. The “pamilya incorporada issue” is an old song and had been there long before and even when he and Niere were still together, he added.

CRIMINAL, CIVIL CASES

Meanwhile, Marlou “Nonoy” Amago, a foreman of the Department of Public Services, said he has filed a criminal case against Ebreo with the Office of the Ombudsman for slight physical injuries in 2009.

He said Ebreo punched him on June 16, 2008, when he was yet a casual coordinator, because he claimed that his casuals were not paid. The seven casuals of Ebreo were paid and were asked to stop working but he made them continue to report for work, so they could not be paid salaries since they had no appointments, he added.

Leonardia said “If you cannot trust the messenger, you cannot trust the message,” referring to the allegations of Ebreo and Niere against him.

Nelson Sedillo, assistant department head of the General Services Office, said he had also filed a civil case against Ebreo in court on March 14, 2012 for collection of sum of money, with damages.

He said the case involves the non-liquidation by Ebreo of P200,000 for the 109th Independence Day celebration.

Sedillo said he was designated disbursing officer of the affair, being the only regular employee, and he endorsed the cash advance he made to Ebreo who was head of the secretariat.

Until now, Ebreo has failed to liquidate the P200,000 cash advance so he filed a case against him since the amount will be deducted from his salary if it is not settled, he said, adding that Ebreo has no word of honor.

Earlier, Ebreo said he is planning to file charges against Leonardia, et al for disobeying the order of the Ombudsman to dismiss from the service five current and former employees of Bacolod after finding them administratively guilty of dishonesty.

City Legal Officer Joselito Bayatan said they have filed a motion for reconsideration with the Ombudsman and cannot be dismissed yet.*CGS

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