PB defers decisionon suspension of barangay chief

CEBU, Philippines - The Provincial Board yesterday has failed to come up with a decision on the appeal of suspended barangay captain Bernardito Luche Jr. of Bakhawan, Daanbantayan, Cebu on his two years suspension by the Municipal Council.

The PB deferred further discussion of the matter following the two different decisions submitted by the committee on complaints and investigation chaired by Board Member Joven Mondigo Jr.

Majority of the committee members composed of Board Members Peter John Calderon, who is the vice-chairman; Arleigh Jay Sitoy, Wilfredo Caminero and Carmen Remedios Meca reduced the penalty to only three months.

Mondigo and Board Member Jose Ribomapil Holganza Jr. decided to affirm en toto the decision of the Municipal Council of Daanbantayan.

“This is the first time that the chair and the committee members have not come up with a unified and unanimous decision,” Mondigo said.

The Municipal Council of Daanbantayan found Luche guilty of the charges for grave abuse of authority, oppression, serious misconduct and gross dishonesty filed by barangay councilor Veronico Espinosa.

Luche was charged for allegedly confiscating cut trees without authority, recording into the blotter a certain person even if he was not caught illegally cutting trees and collecting barangay clearance fees in excess of what is authorized by the ordinance

Luche sought the reversal of the decision of the Municipal Council of Daanbantayan finding him guilty for four administrative infractions and imposing the administrative penalty of suspension from office for a period of six months each for every infraction committed.

“The appeal is not meritorious,” Mondigo’s ruling said while Calderon’s decision said, “the appeal is meritorious”.

Mondigo said that the Municipal Council correctly rendered its decision but Calderon ruled that there is no basis for the findings of serious misconduct or gross dishonesty.

Calderon suggested that the body will have to vote one decision against the other which Mondigo agreed but Board Member Sun Shimura noticed political leanings in coming up with the decision.

Calderon’s group belong to the Liberal Party of which Luche is running for councilor of Daanbantayan under the same party, while Mondigo and Holganza are allies of Mayor Maria Luisa Loot, Shimura’s mother. —/MIT (FREEMAN)