3 councilors return after suspension

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The first batch of preventively suspended councilors returned to work Monday after serving three months of leave.

Councilors Roderick Awaingan, Jim Botiwey, Francis Lee will return to the legislative body to resume their duties.

In May, Judge Danilo Camacho ordered a 90-day preventive suspension for Vice Mayor Romeo Salda, presiding officer of the La Trinidad town council and Councilors Botiwey; Henry Kipas; Arthur Shontogan; Awingan; Horacio Ramos Jr.; Estrella Adeban; Lee; Von Tauli and Robert Namoro, who on December 2010 declared journalist Jimmy Laking “personan non grata” for his alleged biased reporting at the more than 50-year-old Baguio Midland Courier regional weekly newspaper.

Hearing for case of Laking is ongoing in court as the entire legislative team of the Valley was charged with violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Preventive suspension is mandatory in graft cases until a decision is met by the courts.

Next up for a three month suspension are Councilors Ramos Jr., and Tauli.

Councilor Kipas requested the courts to include him in the first batch of preventively suspended but he served his suspension weeks after.

Aldermen scheduled at the last quarter of the year are Vice Mayor Salda, Councilors Shontogan, Adeban and Namoro.

There have been feelers sent by the council members to Laking for a settlement but were rejected, opting to go on the full length of the case instead of settling out of court.