DILG-7 director faces complaints before Ombuds

CEBU, Philippines - The director of the Department of Interior and Local Government-7 is facing complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas for allegedly not implementing a suspension order against the mayor of the municipality of Dalaguete.

 Former municipal engineer Ildebrando Almagro, a resident of Poblacion, Dalaguete, filed complaints against lawyer Rene Burdeos, DILG-7 director, for graft, open disobedience, grave misconduct, abuse of authority, oppression, conduct unbecoming a public official and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service, yesterday afternoon.

 “The suspension order against Mayor Ronald Allan Cesante for directly or indirectly having financial and material interest in any transaction requiring the approval of his office has long been received by their office but until now the penalty of suspension of nine months and one day was not yet implemented,” he stated.

 Almagro, a mayoralty candidate under the One Cebu Party, said he asked the DILG of the suspension order and was informed that it was not implemented. Thus, he sought the intervention of the Office of the Ombudsman.

 On November 24, 2015, Ombudsman Conchi-ta Carpio Morales approved the decision finding Cesante administratively liable and meted the penalty of suspension and a stern warning, and directed Burdeos to implement it.

Cesante was charged for alleged irregularities over the execution of a Contract of Lease on June 25, 2007 between him, in representation of the municipality as lessor, and his wife, Joanna Cesante as lessee, involving four commercial spaces in a Commercial center Building in Poblacion, Dalaguete.

 Almagro said Burdeos received the decision on December 18, 2015. However, up to this time, the decision has not yet been implemented.

 “The reason given to me by DILG-7 that they cannot implement the said decision because they are still waiting for a protocol clearance form DILG Central Office to implement said decision,” he said, adding the “unjustifiable and malicious refusal or disobedience” by Burdeos to immediately implement the decision is a clear violation of the law.

 In an interview, Burdeos said it was true that they received the decision in the afternoon of December 18, 2015. He was able to read the same at around 5 p.m.

 However, he said there was a circular in their office stating that all orders from the courts and administrative bodies must be forwarded first before their Central Office for clearance.

 On December 21, 2015, Burdeos said they forwarded the said decision for clearance before its implementation, but until now, no clearance has been issued.

 He added they cannot implement the decision unless there’s a mandate coming from their Central Office. — (FREEMAN)