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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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ILOILO – New Lucena mayor Christian Sorongon’s filing of criminal and administrative charges against her was bare-faced politicking, said the town’s former chief executive Liecel Seville, now a Provincial Board member.
“He knows he will be facing me in the next elections,” said Seville who ran for a seat in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in the recent May elections after completing her third and final term as New Lucena mayor.
Seville would have wanted her husband to be her successor in New Lucena but Sorongon defeated him.
On Wednesday, Sorongon accused Seville before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas here of malversation of public funds, citing the 2015 Commission on Audit report on the municipality of New Lucena.
“Ginapatalang ‘ya mga tawo paagi sa sini nga mga kaso,” said Seville.
She said she had fully explained to COA the concerns that state auditors raised.
“We have not received a notice of disallowance, no notice of suspension, and no notice of charges,” Seville stressed.
Sorongon accused the former mayor of serious irregularity, grave misconduct, dishonesty, and conduct unbecoming of a public officer.
He also claimed Seville committed the following criminal acts when she was mayor:
* malversation
* technical malversation
* “rejuggling” of funds
* failure to render account
* failure to make delivery of public funds/property
* violations of pertinent COA circulars on the manual on the new government accounting system for local government units
Aside from Seville, Sorongon also charged the following:
* retired municipal treasurer Ma. Nela Fernandez
* OIC municipal treasurer Jasmin Gallaza (former municipal accountant)
* incumbent Sangguniang Banay secretary Philine Simora (formerly OIC municipal accountant)
* municipal budget officer Ma. Teresa Guadalupe, and
* General Services Office chief, Engr. Sotero Lomigo./PN
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