Camarines Sur town mayor suspended for graft

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has suspended for 90 days a town mayor in Camarines Sur and five municipal officials in Bohol for graft.

In a six-page resolution promulgated on Oct. 19 and released yesterday, the anti-graft court’s seventh division affirmed its earlier ruling suspending Tomas Bongalonta of Pili, Camarines Sur over the alleged illegal dismissal of a municipal employee in 2005.

The Sandiganbayan dismissed Bongalonta’s argument that “it is too late” to order his suspension because the trial of the case is ongoing.  The court said Section 13 of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act mandates the suspension of a public official facing charges regardless of the stage of the proceedings.

The Sandiganbayan rejected Bongalonta’s argument that he could only be suspended for 30 days after serving a suspension order of the Office of the Ombudsman for 60 days for an administrative case over the same complaint.

“Criminal cases are…different from administrative matters...and may proceed independently of criminal proceedings,” the court said.

The Sandiganbayan also denied Bongalonta’s petition to dismiss the case over the supposed inordinate delay in the investigation by the ombudsman.

The case stemmed from the dismissal of Eileen Ceron despite an ombudsman ruling that merely suspended her over a minor offense.

“The penalty of dismissal…had no legal basis…It deprived Ceron not only of her office but also salaries and…benefits amounting to P955,285.06,” the  complaint read.

Bohol town execs

In another resolution dated Sept. 19 and released also yesterday, the fifth division of the Sandiganbayan suspended Panglao municipal budget officer Catalino Sumaylo, engineer Rogelio Bonao, treasurer Rena Guivencan, administrative assistant Dionisia Estopito and administrative aide Rene Lustre.

The municipal government officials were charged with graft over the alleged anomalous procurement of a Kia Sorento worth P1.46 million in 2008 through direct contracting instead of public bidding. They were included in the charge sheet filed against former Panglao mayor Benedicto Alcala.

The court said the suspension of incumbent public officials charged under a valid complaint for any offense involving fraud upon government or public funds or property is mandatory.

The suspension is necessary to prevent the accused from hampering his or her prosecution by intimidating or influencing witnesses, tampering with evidence or committing further acts of malfeasance, the Sandiganbayan said.