Ex-Pangasinan execs cleared of grave misconduct

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan  , Philippines  — Two former officials of the Pangasinan provincial government who were dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman over alleged black sand mining have been cleared by the Supreme Court (SC).

Former administrator Rafael Baraan and Alvin Bigay of the provincial housing and urban development coordinating council office announced at a press conference yesterday that they received the SC  ruling dated Dec. 11, 2017 last April 18.

“The petition appears to be weak in view of the absence of other circumstances that would justify that respondents are guilty of grave of misconduct,” the SC ruling read.

Baraan said the SC ruling, which followed a Court of Appeals decision downgrading his offense to simple misconduct,  was “a great relief.”

He said the ombudsman decision was ”like a death penalty,” noting that they were also perpetually disqualified from holding public office with their retirement benefits forfeited.

Baraan, 65, said he would not return to government service. Bigay, who is now 50, said he would re-assume his post.