Paniqui mayor suspended for 60 days

TARLAC CITY, Philippines – The mayor of Paniqui town has been ordered suspended for 60 days over the alleged illegal use of P3 million municipal funds to pay for the salaries of job order (JO) or contractual employees.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan ordered the suspension of Paniqui Mayor Miguel Cojuangco Rivilla Thursday afternoon.  

Rivilla said he was surprised by the suspension order, noting that even his predecessors have been using municipal funds to pay JO employees.

JO workers are paid under a lump sum appropriation and have no employer-employee relation with the government.

“Why was the complaint filed only now?” Rivilla said. “My whole attention was on the electoral protest lodged by my rival. I did not see this suspension coming.” 

He said the suspension order was politically motivated.

The suspension order stemmed from the complaint filed by Councilor Evelyn David on July 3. David is the wife of Rommel David, whom Rivilla defeated in the 2013 elections. Rommel also filed an electoral protest against Rivilla.