Dismissed mayor steps down

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan, Philippines – The mayor of this city has stepped down.

Jefferson Soriano handed over his post to Vice Mayor Bienvenido de Guzman yesterday after the Department of the Interior and Local Government served the dismissal order.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said Soriano was found guilty of grave misconduct and abuse of authority over the illegal operation of a transport terminal in 2015.

Morales also ordered Soriano’s perpetual disqualification from holding public office, forfeiture of his retirement benefits as well as cancellation of his civil service eligibility.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by a transport group that questioned the relocation of its terminal in favor of One Way Parking Terminal Inc.?(OWPTI).

Graft probers said Soriano allowed OWPTI to operate the terminal without approval from the city council.

It was not the first time that Soriano was removed from his post. In 2014, he was dismissed over the operation of a flea market and carnival  in 2013 without authority of the city council. The Court of Appeals reversed the dismissal and suspended Soriano for six months for simple misconduct. 

The Sandiganbayan also suspended Soriano for 90 days for his alleged involvement in the police rubber boat scam in 2008.