VM won’t assume as acting mayor: Suspension order served

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) 7 has served the 90-day preventive suspension order of the Sandiganbayan against Aloguinsan Mayor Cynthia Moreno and seven other municipal officials.

Moreno’s husband, Vice Mayor Augustus Caesar Moreno, confirmed service of the order around 3 p.m. yesterday at a resort in Toledo City where city officials met for the executive-legislative agenda.

The vice mayor said the order was received “under protest” pending resolution of their motion for reconsideration filed last September 19, 2013.

The vice mayor said he has told the DILG that he won’t assume as acting mayor until the motion for reconsideration is resolved.

He also expressed apprehension that the operation of the local government  unit will be affected, considering four of the department heads are also facing suspension.

Last September 24, 2013, DILG Undersecretary Austere Panadero issued a memorandum ordering DILG 7 Director Ananias Villacorta to implement the ruling of the Sandiganbayan First Division.

On August 12, 2013, the Sandiganbayan ruled that Moreno’s petition questioning the suspension has already been resolved by the Supreme Court and attained finality on March 19, 2013.

“In view thereof, the DILG shall now implement the suspension of the accused as ordered in this court’s resolutions dated July 29, 2011 and January 18, 2012, if it has not yet done so,” said the order of the Sandiganbayan First Division signed by Clerk of Court, lawyer Estela Teresita Rosete.

The case against Moreno was filed in 2007.

Felimon Georsua, Jr. had accused Moreno, along with municipal engineer Orven Nengasca, civil registrar and Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) chairman Pepito Maguilimotan, budget officer Nonela Villegas, agricultural officer Marilyn Flordeliza, municipal assessor John Lim, utility workers and BAC members Emilia Luz Celis and Getrudes Ababon of violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees for buying construction materials worth at least P1 million in 2007 allegedly without public bidding.

Moreno belongs to One Cebu Party. In the 2010 elections, the husband and wife tandem ran and won with Augustus Caesar as mayor and Cynthia as vice mayor. Seats were swapped in the May 2013 polls. — With Mylen P. Manto/JMO (FREEMAN)