PANTABANGAN, Nueva Ecija, Philippines – The Department of the Interior and Local Governments (DILG) has installed Vice Mayor Ruben Huerta as the new mayor of this town.
DILG provincial director for Nueva Ecija Abraham Pascua and DILG regional legal officer Myron Cunanan odered Huerta to assume his new post and served the dismissal order for Mayor Lucio Uera on Thursday.
The Office of the Ombudsman dismissed Uera for illegally suspending and terminating some 40 municipal employees nine years ago.
DILG Region 3 director Florida Dijan issued the dismissal order on March 13.
The ombudsman found Uera guilty of two counts of grave misconduct, grave abuse of authority and oppression in a resolution issued on June 10, 2013.
In their complaint, the dismissed employees said they were about to report to work on Jan. 3, 2005 when they were barred entry into the municipal hall by Uera’s alleged “goons.” They claimed their daily time records and personal belongings were confiscated.
Because they could not report to the municipal hall, the employees said they went to the Sangguniang Bayan building where Uera’s rival, Romeo Borja Sr., who was proclaimed winner in an electoral protest in connection with the 2004 polls, was holding office.
Three weeks later, the complainants said Uera – who was reinstated by the Commission on Elections – ordered them to explain why they should not be charged for their unauthorized absences.
The complainants said Uera also ordered their 60-day preventive suspension without conducting an investigation.