Tomas on previous admin’s alleged irregularities: ‘Very, very sickening’

Local

CEBU City Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña said the city has only begun to uncover the extent of alleged irregularities left by previous administrations, calling the situation “very, very sickening.”

Osmeña on Monday, July 7, said the alleged anomalies recently exposed by the Cebu City government are only the beginning of what he believes is a much bigger and deeper problem.

“My God. You know, we are just touching the tip of the iceberg. It's very, very sickening. I really feel sick. I feel sick for two reasons: one, the people of Cebu are deprived. Two, we are troubled by cleaning up the mess,” he said.

“Anyway, we have a legal process, we have a process of documentation, and there’s plenty more to come out,” Osmeña added.

He also confirmed that former Commission on Audit commissioner Heidi Mendoza has been enlisted to help lead an independent review of the city’s finances.

“We need help. We need people whose reputation and competencies are unquestioned,” he said.

This comes days after Mayor Nestor Archival Sr. revealed what he called irregularities in procurement under the previous administration, including the controversial purchase of a P4.4-million BYD Tang electric SUV and reports of overpriced T-shirts allegedly worth P20,000.

Osmeña dismissed the shirt purchase as minor compared

to what’s coming next.

“There’s more than that… that's nothing compared to what we will discuss later on. I don't like to be hilaw,” he said.

Asked about former mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia’s denial of any budget deficit under his term, Osmeña was direct.

“Tell him to produce the papers. Tell him to show the papers. Stop talking. Show the papers,” he said.

When told that former mayor Michael Rama was willing to defend Garcia amid the controversy, Osmeña scoffed.

“Unsay unfair? Looy si Raymond? Between two lawyers, both of them are lawyers, but I heard the expression. What a blind leading the blind… Paka-oa lang siya. Kulang siya sa pansin,” he said.

Moreover, asked if legal cases will be filed, Osmeña said that while he supports it, the final call belongs to the mayor.

“I cannot answer the question because I'm only the vice mayor. It's up to the mayor. It's his prerogative. Of course, I want to file cases, but before you can file cases, you have to have a legal team; you cannot file cases with one or two, and many of them are identified with the previous administration,” he said.

“Of course, I have [strong] evidence. Because many of these transactions have paper trails,” Osmeña added.

Mayor Archival, when asked to comment on the matter, said, “That’s correct, that legal movement.”

Previously, Archival warned of massive budget issues in City Hall and alleged that wasteful and overpriced procurement deals under the Rama and Garcia administrations contributed to a projected deficit of P2 to P3 billion.

“This is something unimaginable,” Archival said, citing the purchase of an electric SUV as an example. “If you’re going to buy a car worth P3.4 million, and then charge the city P4.4 million… that is unacceptable.”

He said such practices create a dangerous precedent.

“The moment you let this pass, others will just follow and think ‘okay ra man diay.’ That is not good for the city.”

Archival also mentioned other items still under review, including the questionable purchase of supplies like T-shirts allegedly priced at P20,000 each.

“I would say irregularities… If you have something you buy and overpriced it, mao nay usa ka rason nga nagka anam ka dako ang atong deficit,” he said. “This is a waste of money so if ingani ka daghan then usa ni sa rason nga dako ang atong deficit.”

Garcia has denied all allegations and insisted there was no budget deficit when he stepped down, claiming he left the city with P11 billion in deposits.

But Archival countered, saying the remaining funds are no longer sufficient to meet City Hall’s payables and obligations.

“When you compare it with the payroll and obligations, we’re already at a negative P2 billion.”

Earlier, Osmeña called the SUV purchase “vulgar” and alleged that outgoing officials tried to destroy public records before leaving office.

“There’s a reason Gwen Jr. tried very hard to destroy documents on his way out,” he said. “He says he’s cooperating with Mayor Nestor, but in truth, he’s trying to sabotage him at every turn.”

The Gwen Jr. that Osmeña was referring to is Garcia, the nephew of former Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.(TGP)