ANGELES CITY – Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting yesterday vowed to file administrative and criminal charges against Mayor Francis “Blueboy” Nepomuceno in connection with the review of Department of Budget and Management (DBM) stating that the city’s 2008 annual budget lacked the necessary requirements when passed early last year.
Cabigting said her legal team is now preparing to sue Nepomuceno and the city’s local finance committee members for “illegal disbursement.”
“Nepomuceno is now in hot waters following the reply of the DBM national office, stating that the review of the 2008 budget by its regional office ‘s hereby set aside due to lack of required supporting documents,” said Cabigting.
In a formal letter addressed to the Angeles City Council dated December 15, 2008, Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya, Jr. said that the “2008 FY Annual Budget as transmitted for review must bear the signature of the Vice Mayor, as presiding officer, and the attestation by the Secretary to the Sanggunian.”
Andaya also said that “it is the Secretary to the Sanggunian, who should forward the FY 2008 Annual budget of Angeles City to the DBM-RO III for its review. The transmittal letter of the Secretary to the Sanggunian must also be submitted with the said appropriation ordinance.”
It was Vega-Cabigting, who called the attention of Andaya in her letter dated February 25, 2008, on the failure of Nepomuceno to submit the required supporting documents and for submitting the budget to the DBM Region III despite the failure of the appropriation ordinance to comply with the procedural aspects prescribed by the law.
Cabigting also questioned the DBM Region III headed by Director Elisa Salon for reviewing the annual budget without the proper supporting documents.
It was reported that Salon is a close friend and classmate of the then City Administrator Ireneo “Bong” Alvaro.
Cabigting pointed out that under the Updated Budget Operations Manual for the government units published by DBM, “all appropriation ordinances authorizing the annual or supplemental budgets submitted for review must have the signature of the presiding officer; the attestation by the secretary of the Sanggunian; and the approval of the Chief Executive.”
In the case of the 2008 city annual budget, the appropriation ordinance lacked the substantive requirements for its passage since it was not signed by her as the presiding officer and was not attested by the Sanggunian Secretary, Cabigting said.
Cabigting added that Nepomuceno has no legal right to transmit the budget to DBM Region III for review since that is the sole duty of the Sanggunian.
“I am very glad that the Secretary Andaya acted upon this matter to prevent a dangerous precedent,” Cabigting said.
Cabigting said her legal team is now preparing to sue Nepomuceno and the city’s local finance committee members for “illegal disbursement.”
“Nepomuceno is now in hot waters following the reply of the DBM national office, stating that the review of the 2008 budget by its regional office ‘s hereby set aside due to lack of required supporting documents,” said Cabigting.
In a formal letter addressed to the Angeles City Council dated December 15, 2008, Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya, Jr. said that the “2008 FY Annual Budget as transmitted for review must bear the signature of the Vice Mayor, as presiding officer, and the attestation by the Secretary to the Sanggunian.”
Andaya also said that “it is the Secretary to the Sanggunian, who should forward the FY 2008 Annual budget of Angeles City to the DBM-RO III for its review. The transmittal letter of the Secretary to the Sanggunian must also be submitted with the said appropriation ordinance.”
It was Vega-Cabigting, who called the attention of Andaya in her letter dated February 25, 2008, on the failure of Nepomuceno to submit the required supporting documents and for submitting the budget to the DBM Region III despite the failure of the appropriation ordinance to comply with the procedural aspects prescribed by the law.
Cabigting also questioned the DBM Region III headed by Director Elisa Salon for reviewing the annual budget without the proper supporting documents.
It was reported that Salon is a close friend and classmate of the then City Administrator Ireneo “Bong” Alvaro.
Cabigting pointed out that under the Updated Budget Operations Manual for the government units published by DBM, “all appropriation ordinances authorizing the annual or supplemental budgets submitted for review must have the signature of the presiding officer; the attestation by the secretary of the Sanggunian; and the approval of the Chief Executive.”
In the case of the 2008 city annual budget, the appropriation ordinance lacked the substantive requirements for its passage since it was not signed by her as the presiding officer and was not attested by the Sanggunian Secretary, Cabigting said.
Cabigting added that Nepomuceno has no legal right to transmit the budget to DBM Region III for review since that is the sole duty of the Sanggunian.
“I am very glad that the Secretary Andaya acted upon this matter to prevent a dangerous precedent,” Cabigting said.
