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Written By Kit Bagaipo
The Bohol Chronicle

An investigation against Department of Public Works and Highways district engineer Celestino Adlaon has been started at the Ombudsman regarding alleged irregularities of the unfinished Agora building.

A letter complaint was formally filed by City Mayor Dan Lim Friday at the Ombudsman Visayas against Adlaon.

The mayor's complaint followed after Adlaon sought the stoppage of the ongoing demolition of the façade of the unfinished Agora building which is undertaken by contractor J.L. Apostol Enterprises.

The demolition of the building's front section is being done by the contractor to abide with the required setback from the highway.
          
Adlaon requested for the contractor and the city government to stop the demolition, saying the DPWH has yet to officially turn-over the unfinished building to the city government.

The DPWH undertook the Agora reconstruction more than ten years ago.

During his weekly "Mayor's Report", Lim disclosed that as early as March 12, 2004 , the DPWH, through Adlaon, issued a Certificate of Acceptance declaring the "completion of the Tagbilaran City Public Market (Agora)."

The certification was signed by Adlaon and accepted by then City Mayor Jose Torralba, who also signed the document.

The mayor said the city government "assumed full responsibility" of the Agora building from the DPWH since March 2004.

This is contrary to Adlaon's claim that he sought the clearance from higher DPWH officials regarding the unfinished building which is "still to be inventoried" by the DPWH, Lim said, the Agora is already a property of the city government.

The mayor said he is asking the Ombudsman to investigate on the DPWH and the former mayor.

The city government entered into a 20-year rehabilitate-operate-transfer (ROT) contract with J.L Apostol Enterprises.

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