CA stops Ombudsman from sacking DPWH official

The Court of Appeals has stopped the Office of the Ombudsman from enforcing its order to fire a ranking official of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) who allegedly failed the government’s life-style check.

Warning government agents against enforcing the order, justices of the 10th division of the appellate court issued a "writ of preliminary injunction," or a permanent freeze order on the Ombudsman’s directive issued Oct. 2004 against Salvador Pleyto, whom government prosecutors accused of acquiring ill-gotten wealth worth P81 million.

"You (the Ombudsman’s Office) and all persons acting on your behalf are ordered to refrain from implementing the decision pending final determination of this petition," Justices Mario Guarina, Marina Buzon and Santiago Ranada said in a two-page resolution.

The resolution found that "the commission of the act complained of during the litigation would possibly work injustice to Pleyto, or tend to render the judgment ineffectual."

Pleyto was also "excused" from filing a bail bond.

The CA’s order and the temporary restraining order (TRO) it issued in November 2004 reinstated Pleyto. He continues to work under the leadership of newly designated Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane.

Reacting to the order, Pleyto said he felt "vindicated" and confident he would eventually be absolved of the charges of grave misconduct and dishonesty, purportedly for concealing the extent of his assets, that were filed against him.

Pleyto’s lawyers, former Rep. Roan Libarios and Edna Thelma Ypil, have informed Ebdane of the CA order.

Last year, Pleyto cried foul over the Ombudsman’s decision, saying his assets were not acquired illegally.

Pleyto insists the assets came from a profitable piggery business he and his wife, Miguela, ran since the late 1970s.