PB yet to probe 14 admin cases

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Boards’ committee on complaints and investigation still has to resolve if it would pursue investigating at least 14 administrative cases with the election period already set.

The Commission on Elections has earlier clarified that investigating bodies dealing with cases involving local elective officials can still investigate within the election period, which is from January 10 to June 8 although imposing preventive suspension is prohibited within such period.

Board Member Grecilda Sanchez-Zaballero, who now chairs the committee following the resignation of PB Member Arleigh Jay Sitoy, is determined to pursue the investigation.

Zaballero announced that in the next few days, the committee will be conducting more hearings on cases to be resolved.

“We will do our best efforts to finish what we can. Some cases need not end up in one being suspended,” she said.

On the other hand, PB Member Joven Mondigo Jr., who was appointed the new vice-chairman of the committee, said the aggrieved party can raise the matter through a motion, citing a provision in the Local Government Code of 1991.

Section 62(c) of the Code provides that no investigation shall be held within 90 days immediately prior to any local election, and no preventive suspension shall be imposed within the period. If preventive suspension has been imposed prior to the 90-day period immediately preceding local election, it shall be deemed automatically lifted upon the start of aforesaid period.

“That is something the committee on complaints will have to study,” Mondigo said.

But Zaballero explained that it is just when cases are filed that the committee will have to act and resolve the issues.

What matters now, Zaballero stressed, is to resolve these cases to clear those officials who are not guilty of the charges and to also resolve cases where officials are found guilty of the offense.

 “Penalty is secondary to the resolution of the case filed. Primary purpose is to resolve it. It doesn’t mean that our duty as members of the committee on investigation of PB for that matter stops because there is an election ban period to suspend,” Zaballero added.

Prominent administrative cases now pending before the PB included the case filed by Dumanjug Vice Mayor Efren Guntrano Gica against Mayor Nelson Gamaliel Garcia of One Cebu Party who has been suspended for six months, and the one filed by Liloan Vice Mayor Lucelito Pilapil against Mayor Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco.  (FREEMAN)