Margot: No purchase order for four Montero Sports

CEBU, Philippines - After ordering for all Cebu City government officials to return all city-issued vehicles and motorcycles, acting mayor Margarita Osmeña found out that four Mitsubishi Montero Sport vehicles were purchased by the city but have no records with the General Services Office.

Of the four vehicles, only two have been returned.

"We still need to find out, maybe wala na deliver, we don't know? Kay wala may records sa GSO," Osmeña said.

The two Monteros were allegedly returned by Dr. Ester Concha, head of the Department of Social Welfare and Services, and lawyer Collin Russell, head of the City Division for the Welfare of Urban Poor.

The vehicles had a total purchase amount of P5,648,000 and were delivered in advance. Their purchase order, which was dated April 29, 2016, has not yet been signed since the day of its issuance to the city.

In a phone interview with The FREEMAN, Russell denied that one of the Montero was issued to him.

"Wala pa ko kibaw ana, so far walay na-issue nga city-owned vehicles nga Montero, ang naa nako kay Fortuner pero tua na pud sa PNP gigamit," Russell said.

 "Ipa-forward lang sa ang papers, clarify it first kay kapoy man gud og deal anang inana nga issue ba nga wala pay klaro. Dapat tanawn for what purpose na siya, sa City of Cebu ba ang nag-purchase ana."

The FREEMAN tried to contact Concha for a statement, but she could not be reached as of press time.

Ronaldo Malacora, head of GSO, said that the two Monteros were returned last Monday or Tuesday.

Malacora said there was no documentation that the Monteros were being used by Russell and Concha, but his personnel said the two officials returned the cars at the Sugbo grounds at the South Road Properties where the other city-issued vehicles are parked.

"Wala man gyud, pero mao may ingon sa akong mga tawo nga nagdawat ngadto sa SRP," he said.

Meanwhile, only 36 barangays have returned their city-issued vehicles.

"So that you will see the number of vehicles that have been returned, vehicles that have been returned to the city kulang pa gyud," Osmeña said.

She said it will be the City Legal Office that will decide on what to do with the barangay officials who still have not returned their vehicles.

Further, Osmeña said that she has not seen Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella's clarificatory letter. "I haven't seen the letter. But he returned his vehicle. He's a lawyer so I would presume that he knows what his saying."

On the other hand, almost all City Hall departments have already returned their city-issued vehicles. In fact, Osmeña said they have reissued 52 vehicles and 19 motorcycles to some departments following evaluation.

After the inventory, the city will assess how many city-issued vehicles and motorcycles will be given back to the barangays.

"We want the vehicles to be used when they are needed, I am not saying equal, how do you define equal? How do you determine equality?" Osmeña said.

She emphasized that the vehicles will be given back to the barangays if necessary, especially for emergency purposes.

 "When they ask for it, and when they can justify, asking them also now, which barangays are not returning the vehicles, they're using for whatever they're keeping for emergency. They will just inform us coz we will give them vehicles," she said.

When asked if there is a possibility to cut down the fuel allowances of the barangays and departments after finding out that some of the barangays and departments had an excessive budget of fuel allowance, Osmeña said, "Why not, it's a suggestion, perhaps it will be taken. We'll see."

Last May 19, the acting mayor signed a memorandum ordering for the reduction of fuel allocation to some individuals.

 "In line with the continuing effort of adopting austerity measures, you are hereby directed to REDUCE the allocation of fuel to FIFTY PERCENT (50%) of the current month allocation. Any request for additional fuel allocation shall be made to and subject to the approval of the Office Mayor," her memorandum reads.  —  (FREEMAN)