Palace: Abra vice governor’s suspension final

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Malacañang has declared as final and executory the suspension of Abra Vice Gov. Joy Valera-Bernos for placing a hospital on lockdown in 2020.

In a statement released last week, Anna Liza Logan, deputy executive secretary for legal affairs at the Office of the President, said that as of Sept. 13, there was no appeal filed at Malacañang questioning Bernos’ suspension. 

The order of the Office of the Executive Secretary was promulgated on Aug. 12.

Bernos was suspended for 18 months after she was found guilty of oppression and abuse of authority, conduct unbecoming of a public official and disobedience to government policies.

The charges stemmed from a complaint filed by Voltaire Seares in December 2020 after Bernos, who was governor at the time, ordered a lockdown on the Dr. Petronillo Seares Memorial Hospital in Bangued due to a COVID case recorded in June of the same year.

Seares, who was administrator of the hospital, said the provincial government erected barricades around the  health facility and placed the barangay under extreme enhanced community quarantine status.

The lockdown deprived the public of essential medical services, Seares said.

Bernos questioned her suspension and obtained a temporary restraining order on Sept. 13, which lapsed on Sept. 23.

Logan said that as of Sept. 17, Bernos  has not filed any appeal with the appellate court.