The head of the Cebu City聽 Government Services Office yesterday asked former city treasurer Ofelia Oliva to return聽 the 9mm pistol issued to her.
Rolando Ardosa said Oliva already accounted for all other property and equipment under her office聽 and turned these over聽聽 to her successor, Acting City Treasurer Tessie Camarillo.
Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima earlier denied Mayor Michael Rama鈥檚 request聽 for the fourth extension of聽 Oliva鈥檚 stay聽聽 in Cebu City.
Purisima gave in to the request of聽 Rep. Tomas Osme帽a of Cebu City鈥檚 south district to replace Oliva, whom he said was overstaying.
Osme帽a earlier said聽 he opposed Oliva鈥檚 continued stay in the city because of 鈥渞idiculous鈥� and 鈥渁larming鈥� transactions she entered into聽 last year.
Oliva released a P5-million cash advance for street lights in December 2010 and requested a P20- million travel budget for her office.
Rama said Osme帽a should have raised his concerns to him. He said it only聽 further聽 justified his departure from the Bando Osme帽a-Pundok Kauswagan party.
Rama said while Osme帽a accuses Oliva, Osme帽a鈥檚 administration聽 had聽 anomalies like聽 the purchase of refurbished garbage trucks at brand-new prices from Pasajero motors and substandard聽 barangay projects by聽 contractor E.M. Arante Construction.
The Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas is investigating the purchase of garbage trucks.
鈥淟et things be, a new Ombudsman is coming soon, anyway,鈥� Rama said.
City Legal Officer Joseph Bernaldez and City Administrator Jose Mari Poblete finished the聽 Arante probe聽 and just need the聽 investigating team to sign the report, Poblete told the mayor.
Rama directed Poblete to furnish him a copy of their report before the week ends.
鈥淧robably the City Council will give it (the report) to the Ombudsman,鈥� Rama said. /Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac