Investigations ongoing at NGC: Albee

Bacolod City Mayor Albee Benitez said that investigation into allegations of corruption at the city government is “ongoing”.

“We have given a lot of show cause orders and even suspended some employees. There is still a lot of investigation going,” Benitez said.

The mayor said that the “truth commission’s” primary purpose is to come up with a system that the city will not be called through the Audit Observation Memorandum (AOM).

An AOM is a written notification to the agency head and concerned officer/s informing of deficiencies noted in the audit of accounts, operations or transactions and requiring comments thereto and/or submission of documentary and other information.

“It is more of making sure that transactions of the city government are above board, transparent and within the standards of procedures and auditing procedures of the Commission on Audit (COA),” the mayor pointed out.

If the public sees something irregular, Benitez said, “they are free to let us know and we will act on it immediately.”

Benitez’s reactions amid criticism that his “truth commission” that he created upon assumption into office last year has not been doing anything.

On allegations against officials of the past administration who committed corruption, he said “we start from allegations to evidences and proof of their wrong doings. As of now, we have asked the COA for certain documents,” he said.

He added that the audit agency told them that the requests should be specific enough in line with the ongoing investigation.

“They cannot give documents in bulk or that will be called witch hunting,” Benitez said.* (EYA)