Palace sacks Laguna town mayor

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the President has ordered the removal from office of the mayor of San Pedro, Laguna after the Supreme Court (SC) upheld his conviction for graft with penalty of being barred from employment in government.

The order to remove San Pedro Mayor Calixto Cataquiz dated April 5 was signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa.

Since Cataquiz is a local government official, the directive will be implemented by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

DILG Secretary Mar Roxas II said he would look into the Malacañang directive.

Cataquiz served as general manager of the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) in 2001 until his dismissal in 2003 “on the grounds of corrupt and unprofessional behavior and management incompetence,” as alleged by the Concerned Employees of the Laguna Lake Development Authority (Cellda).

Cellda and San Pedro Vice Mayor Norvic Solidum, who will replace Cataquiz as mandated by law, were furnished copies of the directive.

In its complaint with the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC), Cellda said Cataquiz disbursed P500,000 in LLDA funds as gifts for residents of San Pedro town, solicited funds to promote a film entry to the 2002 Metro Manila Film Festival, and illegally entered into transactions with fish pen operators, including a Taiwanese company.

In a 27-page decision, SC upheld a 2005 resolution of the Office of the President anchored on PAGC findings imposing on Cataquiz the penalties of “disqualification from re-employment in the government service and forfeiture of retirement benefits.”