Suspended Tuguegarao mayor reassumes post

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines   â€“ Mayor Jefferson Soriano has returned to work after the suspension order meted against him for his alleged involvement in a P34-million helicopter scam lapsed.

Soriano, then deputy director general for administration of the Philippine National Police (PNP) during the Arroyo administration, was meted a 90-day preventive suspension in October last year.

“It’s back to business. We can now move on and work for the betterment of our city,” Soriano said during a people’s day activity here on Friday.

In January, the mayor voluntarily stepped down from his post after the Sandiganbayan affirmed the suspension imposed by the Ombudsman on him.

Soriano was implicated in the PNP helicopter controversy along with then PNP chief Jesus Verzosa.

Both are currently facing criminal charges for the reported anomalous purchase of two Robinson R44 Raven 1 helicopters for the PNP in 2009.

The PNP reportedly purchased the helicopters as brand new from the Manila Aerospace Trading Corp. An investigation, however, showed these were secondhand units, previously owned by former first gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo.

Soriano was the chairman of the PNP bids and awards committee when the allegedly anomalous transaction occurred.   

Meanwhile, Soriano told The STAR that he has appealed a new 90-day suspension order imposed on him by the anti-graft court in March for the questionable procurement of rubber boats.

He cited a provision of the Local Government Code that states that no elected official must serve a suspension beyond 90 days in every year of incumbency regardless of the number of cases they are involved in.

Soriano said his involvement in both cases was purely ministerial.