Absentee P’sinan town exec ordered suspended

LINGAYEN, Philippines   – The provincial board of Pangasinan has suspended for six months a municipal councilor of Sta. Maria town for receiving his salary and other benefits despite his continuous absence in the council sessions for almost a year.

Jun-Jun Macaraeg was found guilty of gross negligence, dereliction of duty and dishonesty in an administrative case filed by Vice Mayor Conrado Ignacio and seven members of Sta. Maria municipal council.

Macaraeg’s suspension was approved in yesterday’s session of the provincial board led by Alfonso Bince Jr., chairman of the committee on good government and accountability of public offices.

Macaraeg was absent in the council sessions from July 2013 to April this year. He was found to have attended only two regular sessions.

“He will not receive his salary and other benefits during the period of his suspension,” the decision said.

The board also ordered Macaraeg to return the amount he received during his absences from the sessions.

Macaraeg admitted the charges against him. He said his failure to attend the sessions was due to threats to his life. The board said Macaraeg’s allegation was baseless.

Macaraeg said the Local Government Code allows a member of a municipal council to receive his monthly compensation and other benefits even if he does not attend the sessions.

The board sought an opinion of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on the matter.

The DILG said the grant of salaries to members of the municipal or provincial council is not based on their attendance at the session, as it is not their only function.

“A municipal or provincial councilor can still receive salary and other emoluments even if he does not attend the sessions,” the DILG said.

The provincial board believes otherwise.