ILOILO CITY – Former Iloilo City Councilor Plaridel Nava II has denied allegations made by former Councilor Atty. R Leone “Boots” Gerochi, who claimed that Iloilo City was left with no funds and was heavily in debt after Mayor Jerry Treñas completed his term in 2010.
Treñas, who served as mayor until 2010, was succeeded by former Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog while he transitioned to his role as Representative of Iloilo City’s Lone District.
In an interview with Bombo Radyo, Nava explained that before the end of 2009, the city’s budget for 2010 had already been approved and properly allocated, ensuring that the Iloilo City Government had sufficient funds.
Treñas officially stepped down as mayor on June 30, 2010, with Mabilog assuming office the following day, on July 1.
Nava also argued that Gerochi, who was a city councilor at the time, had continued to receive his allowances, which he claimed was proof that the city still had financial resources.
Furthermore, Nava revealed that it was actually the Mabilog administration that incurred substantial debt. According to him, in 2010, the city took out a P350-million loan for the construction of the Iloilo City Hall. In 2012, the administration secured another P867-million loan—the same year the joint venture agreement for the Iloilo Ferry Terminal at Parola Wharf was approved.
