Suspension of 11 local execs weeks before BSKE OK’d

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has allowed the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to suspend 11 local government officials – even with just a few weeks before the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE).

Republic Act 7160, or the Local Government Code, prohibits the imposition of preventive suspensions 90 days prior to any election.

The Omnibus Election Code also prohibits the suspension of elective officials without any authorization from the Comelec, except when the order comes from the Office of the Ombudsman.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia approved the granting of exemption to the DILG upon the recommendation of the commission’s law department.

“Upon evaluation, we find the requests to have sufficiently complied with the requirements of the Omnibus Election Code,” the Comelec said in granting the exemption.

The DILG previously asked the poll body for an exemption from the ban on suspension, noting that, in separate orders, the Office of Ombudsman imposed an administrative penalty of suspension against 11 local government officials in Pampanga, Bohol, Camarines Sur and Kalinga provinces.

It noted that the cases against the 11 officials did not involve the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, thus the need for authority from the Comelec to impose the sanction.

Aside from the DILG, the Comelec also granted an exemption for the implementation of several job facilitation and livelihood programs of the Department of Labor and Employment.

DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma stressed, in his request for exemption, the need to disburse public funds to the target beneficiaries.

The Comelec reminded the DOLE to ensure that the implementation of its programs shall not, in any manner, influence the conduct of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections and should not involve any promotion or increase in pay.