Palace to implement dismissal order vs Pichay

MALACANANG said Friday that it will implement the Office of the Ombudsman's order to dismiss Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) chairman Prospero Pichay, an ally of former President and Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the order has been formally transmitted to the Office of the President.

"The ball is now with us. The next step is for the Office of the President to give appropriate instructions to the Department of Health (DOH) under Secretary (Enrique) Ona to implement the dismissal order," Valte said.

The Palace official said the LWUA is under the DOH.

"We will comply with the directive of the Ombudsman. That is a lawful order so we will implement," she stressed.

Acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro has ordered the dismissal of Pichay, acting administrator Daniel Landingin and acting deputy administrator Wilfredo Feleo for allegedly misusing the agency's funds by purchasing the capital stock of Express Savings Bank Inc., which was financially-troubled.

Acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro found all three liable for grave misconduct.

Pichay earlier said that he will dispute the dismissal order before the Court of Appeals. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)