Complaint vs Cam Sur governor referred to OP

By Paulo DS Papa

ACTING Executive Secretary Ralph Recto is expected to determine the appropriate action, if any, on a complaint against Camarines Sur Gov. LRay Villafuerte involving alleged deficiencies in transparency and accountability in the provincial government’s procurement disclosures.

The complaint was filed on May 14 by former provincial board member Carlo Batalla, chairman of Crimes and Corruption Watch International (CCWI), before the Office of the Ombudsman. It named Villafuerte, Bids and Awards Committee Chair Janis Ian Regaspi-Cleofe, and Information, Communications, Archives and Records Management Office head Hernanie Morales as respondents.

Batalla alleged that details of the provincial government’s procurement activities and bidding processes were not sufficiently disclosed through the provincial government’s official online portal. The complaint seeks an examination of whether the relevant transparency and disclosure requirements were complied with.

In an interview, Batalla said the complaint was being transmitted by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to Malacañang for appropriate action. He said Recto would determine the next steps concerning the matter. The specific status of the referral and any action taken by the concerned offices were not independently established.

Meanwhile, Batalla said CCWI was preparing a separate complaint concerning the status of the construction of the provincial capitol building, a project undertaken by Nationstar Development Corporation and designed by CAZA Architects.

Batalla said he had sent letters of inquiry to the governor’s office and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan seeking information on the project, which he described as unfinished despite nearly eight years of construction.

According to Batalla, Villafuerte advised him to direct his inquiry to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), saying the project was not under the governor’s direct responsibility. Batalla said the provincial board gave him a similar response.

Batalla also cited a reply from former DPWH Bicol regional director Engr. Virgilio Eduarte, whom he said had reported that the capitol project was already 100 percent complete. Batalla said this differed from CCWI’s observations during a site visit. The discrepancy has yet to be independently verified, and the basis for the completion assessment was not established in the information available for this report.

Batalla said CCWI was preparing documents for a complaint involving Villafuerte, the provincial board headed by Vice Gov. Sal Fortuno Jr., and Eduarte. He said the organization intended to submit the case documents to the Office of the Ombudsman before the end of October.

He added that DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon could also be named as a respondent because CCWI had sought information from him regarding the project.

The allegations and proposed complaints have not, by themselves, established liability on the part of any of the officials named. Their responses to the allegations, as well as any findings or actions by the appropriate authorities, were not available for inclusion in this report.