The Committee on Public Accounts of the House of Representatives has issued a show cause order against the mayor of Silay City in the Province of Negros Occidental.

The show cause order issued against Silay City Mayor Joedith Gallego on February 3, 2025 is reportedly for his failure to appear in a House inquiry twice.

The hearing is in relation to the alleged irregularity on a P1.1-billion loan of the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Silay City for three mega infrastructure projects.

Gallego said he is ready to answer inquiries on how the LGU has used the funds.

“Kung mayroong darating, willing talaga. Welcome talaga. Syempre trabaho nila yan. Syempre mag-a-attend ako,” Gallego said.

Gallego pointed out that he was not able to attend the inquiry because of the LGU's preparations for a Tent City as a mitigation measure to a possible explosive eruption of Kanlaon Volcano.

To recall, House Representative Stephen Paduano,  chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, sought an investigation into how the LGU has used the funds, which include the P300-million renovation of the Silay City Public Market, P300-million construction of Silay City College, and P500-million Silay City Government Center.

“This is the third hearing. Based on the statement of the resource persons may problema,” Paduano said.

The Commission on Audit (COA) has also conducted its investigation on how the funds were spent for the three projects.

Further, it was learned that of the P1.1-billion loan, the bank has already released P367 million.