Toledo City mayor defies DILG suspension order

CEBU, Philippines — Toledo City Mayor John Henry Osmeña has refused to heed the suspension order served to him by the Department of Interior and Local Government last Thursday.

Osmeña said that the order suspending him for four months has no more valid ground because the Court of Appeals has already reversed it.

Osmeña was supposed to serve a 12-month suspension over the complaint of two barangay captains that he withheld taxes meant for the community. He already served 8 months before the appellate court reversed the decision.

Despite the CA decision, DILG ordered Osmeña to continue serving the remaining four months of his suspension claiming that the court did not cite his immediate return to office. Moreover, the Ombudsman has filed a motion for reconsideration on the decision.

“DILG cannot overrule Court of Appeals. We will file contempt of court vs DILG on Monday,” Osmeña said.

DILG has already ordered Vice Mayor Antonio Yapha to assume as acting mayor until Osmeña’s four-month suspension is completely served.

“Iya ng decision if dili siya mohawa. Wala tay mahimo ana. Bahala nalang siya kung unsay iyang buhaton. On my part, I have to follow the order of DILG for me to assume as the acting mayor for now,” Yapha said.

Meanwhile, DILG provincial officer Jerome Gonzales explained that the order takes effect immediately the moment it was served. He said that as far as the DILG is concerned, Yapha is the acting mayor since Friday.

He, however, refused not to answer what will happen should the mayor insist on his defiance to the suspension order. Gonzales said they will just wait for the guidance from their central office. (FREEMAN)