BACOLOD CITY: Bacolod City Mayor-elect Alfredo “Albee” Benitez announced on Thursday, May 26, that he will put up a “truth commission” to audit the transactions of the past administration.

“The Commission will be tasked to study and audit all transactions in the spirit of transparency,” Benitez said.

The outgoing administration of Mayor Evelio Leonardia has been criticized by netizens for alleged anomalous transactions ranging from overpriced supplies and equipment to unliquidated cash advances.

Leonardia has denied the allegations claiming his administration is transparent as all transactions are available online.

Benitez, who rode on the campaign of change, said that “we want to know what happened in the past.”

The audit will cover all of the New Government Center, the new mayor said

Benitez, a businessman and former congressman of Negros Occidental’s third district representing the Asenso Bacolod garnered 171,893 votes while Leonardia of Grupo Progreso got 107,447 votes in the mayoral race. He foiled the bid of Leonardia for a final and last term.

Leonardia, who filed an election protest before the Commission on Elections, claimed there was massive vote-buying and that “fake” voters were allowed to cast their votes during the May 9 elections, resulting in the “mysterious and unbelievable” outcome.

Leonardia sought a manual recount of all 450 clustered precincts, asked the poll body to declare a “failure of elections” and conduct special polls in Bacolod City.

“Good is not good enough. We will meet all the expectations of the public. It will be more than good. It will be the best. We will do more than what is expected of us, because the expectations are high on us. All hopes are with Team Asenso. The victory of Bacolodnons has arrived,” Benitez said, adding that “you can now all be proud that you joined Team Asenso.”

The new mayor said he will call on elected officials and city government employees “to go the extra mile to give Bacolod the service it deserves.”

“We want to ensure that all Bacolodnons will enjoy the progress. As what Cong. Greg Gasataya said, nobody will be left behind. If all of us are together, all of us will progress for a better Bacolod, “he added.

Benitez said they decided to do the oath-taking in Barangay Sincang Airport because it gave him the biggest margin of more than 5,000 votes. He said that after the May 9 elections and the proclamation was held, they started working on the promises they made during the campaign for their first 100 days.

Also taking their oaths of office were reelected Rep. Greg Gasataya and councilors-elect Jason Villarosa, Vladimir Gonzalez and Simplicia Distrito, all of Team Asenso led by Benitez.

A formal oath-taking ceremony will be held before the end of June so that supporters and stakeholders can join.