Suspension of Aloguinsan VM, seven others deferred by DILG

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) 7 has held in abeyance the implementation of the 90-day suspension pending litigation against Aloguinsan Vice Mayor Cynthia Moreno and seven municipal officials who were accused of graft and corruption.

DILG 7 Director Ananias Villacorta in an interview over Bantay Radyo said that he is still waiting for the clearance from the legal service office to implement the order of the Sandiganbayan.

Villacorta said that Moreno and the other accused have also filed a petition for certiorari before the Supreme Court questioning the suspension order.

“Basin ma-charge ta og abuse of authority, dili na basta-basta kay naa may naka-file (we could be charged of abuse of authority because there is pending petition),” Villacorta said.

According to Villacorta, he already made several follow ups on his request for clearance but none was issued until now.

Villacorta sought the guidance of DILG Undersecretary for Local Government Austere Panadero on whether or not the filing of a petition for certiorari under Rule 65 of the Revised Rules of Court before the Supreme Court will stay the implementation of the resolution of the anti-graft court.

Villacorta issued a memorandum dated June 27, 2012 directing provincial director Jerome Gonzales to implement the order of the Sandiganbayan after Moreno’s appeal was denied.

The DILG also ordered first ranking Councilor Claudio Gacang to assume as vice mayor of the southwestern town while Moreno is under suspension.

Moreno’s husband, Mayor Augustus Caesar Moreno, has also been directed to temporarily appoint eligible next-in-rank successors for the other suspended local government functionaries, whenever necessary so as not to interrupt the delivery of public service.

But the memoranda have not been implemented because of the petition for certiorari filed by the respondents before the highest tribunal.

Aside from Moreno, other officials who were ordered suspended by the anti-graft court are municipal engineer Orven Nengasca; civil registrar and Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) chairman Pepito Manguilimotan; budget officer Nonela Villegas; agricultural officer Marilyn Flordeliza; municipal assessor John Lim; utility workers and BAC members Emilia Luz Celis and Gertrudes Ababon.

The case stemmed from the complaint filed by former councilor Felimon Georsua, Jr. on the purchase of construction materials worth over P1 million in 2007 which allegedly did not go through the public bidding.

Georsua accused the officials of violating the provisions of RA 3019 otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and RA 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.    - THE FREEMAN