Appeals court stops Palace from firing DPWH undersecretary

The Court of Appeals stopped Malacañang yesterday from dismissing Public Works Undersecretary Salvador Pleyto, who had failed the government’s lifestyle check.

In a 60-day temporary restraining order, the CA first division ordered the Office of the President to temporarily hold back enforcement of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission’s (PAGC) order of dismissal, dated Aug. 29.

"The respondents (PAGC and OP) are directed to cease and desist from implementing the assailed resolutions (firing Pleyto)," read the two-page order.

The order was signed by Presiding Justice Ruben Reyes and concurred in by Justices Vicente Veloso and Juan Enriquez Jr.

Pleyto also has pending petition before the Supreme Court questioning an order of former Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo dismissing him from the service for the same case, which had been affirmed by the CA.

The Supreme Court had also issued a TRO against the dismissal order of the Office of the Ombudsman. — With Delon Porcalla