3 safety mechanisms eyed to solve impasse

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government is eyeing three “safety mechanisms” to pay its dues amounting to P135 million to Asian College of Technology and ACT International Educational Foundation.

These include consigning the amount before the court; paying directly to ACT but ACT should sign an undertaking that it should reimburse the amount if payment is disallowed by the Commission on Audit; and, or the ACT will put up a bond instead of undertaking, so that if COA will disallow the disbursement of funds, the city government can go after the bond.

These mechanisms will be presented on Monday by the City Legal Office during the conference with the city councilors and the lawyers of the school involved.

“At least naa miy safety mechanism nga it will not prejudice sa city if later on there is a pronouncement that we have to get the money back,” said City Attorney Jerone Castillo.

Castillo said the city government is exploring these options after the school allegedly refused to release the transcript of records of the city scholars who graduated because of the unsettled obligations.

He said that the scholarship committee has asked his office to render a legal opinion whether the city government should pay the dues after ACTIEF recently sent a request for the payment of P26 million for the second semester of the current school year.

Since the city government is not aware of the incidents and status of the pending case against south district Representative Rodrigo Abellanosa, who is the owner of the school, the city legal office sought the advice of the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas, Department of Interior and Local Government, and the Commission on Audit.

Castillo said that both the DILG-7 and Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas did not give categorical answer if there is an effect if the city government will pay pending the final decision of the case.

Abellanosa was earlier found guilty of conflict of interest by the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas for entering into a contract with the city government while he was still a member of the City Council.

Castillo said that he is hoping that the COA will render its advice before Monday so he can incorporate the reply in his presentation during the conference.

Mayor Michael Rama is amenable to the proposal to deposit the dues before the court, saying that “it will bring something good for all.” (FREEMAN)