Trial of Duterte’s cousin to continue — Sandigan

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan will proceed with the trial of the administrative complaints filed against a city mayor in Cebu and President Duterte’s second cousin.

In a five-page resolution promulgated on February 20 and released yesterday, the anti-graft court’s fifth division denied the motion of Danao City Mayor Ramonito Durano III to suspend his arraignment and other proceedings for lack of merit. 

The Office of the Ombudsman filed charges against Durano last month for allegedly defying the orders of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to reinstate and pay the back wages of city hall employees he fired in 2013.

The ombudsman said Durano’s defiance had caused prejudice to the employees, noting that the CSC rulings are “final and executory.”

In a resolution issued on June 22, 2016, the ombudsman said Durano was found guilty of neglect of duty and ordered his suspension for three months.

Durano sought to suspend the criminal proceedings, saying the Supreme Court (SC) has yet to act on his petition questioning the ombudsman ruling.

However, the Sandiganbayan said the trial should continue unless the SC issues a temporary restraining order.

The court set Durano’s arraignment on March 2.