Preventive suspension kay Atienza

Hiniling kahapon ni Manila Councilor Benjamin ‘‘Atong’’ Asilo ng unang distrito ng Maynila sa tanggapan ng Ombudsman na patawan ng preventive suspension sina Manila Mayor Lito Atienza at Gerino Tolentino, Officer-in-Charge ng Business Promotion and Development Office of Manila dahil sa pagkabigong ipatupad ang City Ordinance No. 827 na nagsasaad ng pagpapatigil ng operasyon ng Oil Depot sa lungsod simula noong Hunyo 28, 2002.

Sa kanyang reply sa joint counter affidavit nina Atienza at Tolentino, sinabi ni Asilo na ‘‘the granting of business permit by respondents Atienza, Jr. and Tolentino, Jr., in favor of the oil companies is unlawful because it is violative of Ordinance No. 827. It is a ‘‘wrongful, improper or unlawful, conduct motivated by a premeditated, obstinate or intentional purpose’’ per se because it was issued in view of the June 26, 2002 Memorandum of Understanding.

Magugunita na noong Hunyo 26, 2002, o dalawang araw magwakas ang palugit sa pagpapatigil ng operasyon ng Oil Depot, lumagda sa isang Memorandum of Understanding si Atienza, Energy Secretary Vicente Perez at 3 oil companies (Shell, Petron at Caltex) na nagpapalawig ng 6 na buwan sa kanilang operasyon o hanggang Disyembre ngayong taon. Iginiit ni Asilo sa kanyang reply na sina Atienza at Tolentino ‘‘Are guilty not only of gross misconduct but of neglect in the performance of duty warranting the imposition by this honorable office of the sanctions under Sec. 24, R. A. 6770". (Ulat ni Andi Garcia)