Ombudsman suspends Negros mayor, 3 others

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – The mayor of Escalante City in Negros Occidental and three department heads of the city government have been suspended for 90 days over the alleged irregular disbursement of city council funds.

The Office of the Ombudsman suspended Mayor Melecio Yap Jr., city budget officer Roy Caralde, acting city accountant Arnulfa Donoso and city treasurer Wilfredo Ruiz for 90 days since Dec. 29.

The suspension stemmed from the complaint filed by former councilors Armando Alcos, Evelyn Hinolan and Teresita Flores for issuing checks and vouchers from March 2008 to April 2009 for the travel allowances of some councilors without the approval of the city council.

In a 19-page decision signed by graft investigation and prosecution officer III Edna Diño on Nov. 11, the ombudsman said the respondents committed simple misconduct in violation of sections 344 and 345 of the Local Government Code.

“All financial transactions of the city mayor must have the imprimatur of the Sanggunian… that is vested to authorize the mayor to negotiate and contract loans and other forms of indebtedness,” the ruling stated.

The city council has approved a resolution authorizing Yap and Ruiz to sign the checks, except those that will be sourced from the city council’s funds, the ombudsman ruling added.

Margie Biligan, regional director of Department of the Interior and Local Government in Region 18, served the suspension order on Dec. 28.

Vice Mayor Santiago Maravillas took his oath as acting mayor before Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon on Dec. 30.

Yap is a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition and Maravillas of the National Unity Party. The two are running for congressman in the first district of Negros Occidental in the May elections.