Ombudsman suspends 4 Davao, Compostela Valley execs

MANILA, Philippines -  The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the suspension for six months of four officials of Compostela Valley and Davao del Norte for holding on to their posts despite orders from two government agencies and local courts.

Suspended without pay were assistant provincial assessor Abenir Labja and school district supervisor Ramon Zafra of Compostela Valley, Tagum City budget officer Dean Briz and Asuncion Sangguniang Bayan secretary Eugenio Ramonida.

Nabunturan barangay councilor Miguel Fermil, who no longer holds public office, was also fined an amount equivalent to six months of his salary.

Records show that on April 30, 2012, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) removed the officials, except Labja, from their positions as members of the board of directors of Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative Inc. (DANECO).

The Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) also directed them to cease and desist from further exercising their powers and functions as board members of DANECO pending resolution of the dispute in court. 

The Office of the Ombudsman for Mindanao, however, found that the officials “willfully disregarded lawful orders and decisions of the NEA, CDA, Regional Trial Court and Court of Appeals, as they continued to exercise their functions as members of the board of directors, even continuing with the conduct of a referendum when they were already ordered to hold the same in abeyance.”

“By disregarding and circumventing the lawful orders of competent authorities, the respondents have violated Republic Act 6713,” the anti-graft agency’s decision stated, referring to the code of conduct for government officials and employees.

Kidapawan disbursing

officer sacked

Meanwhile, the ombudsman relieved a disbursing officer of Kidapawan City, North Cotabato for failing to liquidate his cash advances. 

Records show that Darwin Loyola did not liquidate P6,097,533.22, which was part of his cash advances to pay for the salaries, allowances and honoraria of various personnel, including teachers, job order workers, flash flood victims, senior citizens and barangay tanods of Kidapawan City. 

The ombudsman said Loyola is presumed to have taken the funds for his personal benefit for failing to account for the money, adding that the latter fled during the investigation.

Criminal charges were also filed against  a former provincial board member of Sulu for failure to liquidate funds amounting to P300,000.