Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella filed an urgent motion for reconsideration yesterday asking the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division to set aside its resolution of May 22 denying his request to travel abroad to attend a football congress.

His motion dated May 18 was denied by the Sandiganbayan because, despite his manifestation that “he will request the Department of Interior and Local Government for authority to travel to Zurich, Switzerland and New York City, USA, there is no record that he filed such request or that the DILG granted him the authority to travel abroad.

The court also emphasized that his arraignment scheduled last May 14 had to be cancelled because he was confined at the Adventist Hospital, Bacolod City (Bacolod Adventist Medical Center), and it would be incongruous for him to undertake a long trip abroad for a very extended period of time without a doctor's clearance or certification that he is fit to do so.

In his latest motion for reconsideration, Puentevella, through his legal counsel Redemptor Peig, asked the court to set aside its May 22 resolution and issue a new one, saying that the DILG had already approved his request for authority to travel to Switzerland to attend the 65 th Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).

IMPERATIVE

Puentevella also said he was issued a medical certificate by Dr. Anna Maria Laarni Pornan that he is physically fit to travel to Switzerland, and that his attendance at the 65 th FIFA Congress is imperative and necessary for his re-appointment to FIFA's Marketing and TV Committee, ensuring a representative the Philippines to FIFA.

He also said he has faithfully complied with all the conditions imposed on him in connection with his previous travels abroad.

CRIMINAL CASE

The Sandiganbayan had set the pre-trial of the criminal case against Puentevella et al, on June 15. Since Puentevella refused to enter plea, the court entered a “not guilty” plea on his behalf during the hearing of the case Friday.

The case against Puentevella and two others stemmed from the alleged anomalous procurement of IT package for public elementary and secondary schools in Bacolod City worth P400,000 each using his Priority Development Assistance Fund when he was congressman of Bacolod City.

Puentevella's co-accused, Jessie Garcia of Merryland Publishing Corporation pleaded not guilty during the May 14 arraignment, while Victorino Tirol, former regional director of the Department of Education, passed away last year.*CGS

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