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Saturday, April 22, 2006
Local DILG seeks word from Manila on ABC officials
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) 7 has asked its central office “for guidance on the appropriate action to take” following Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s order lifting the suspension of 10 Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) officials.
The mayor made the order following a San-diganbayan 4th Division resolution advising him to suspend implementing the sanction while it hears the motion for reconsideration of the ABC officials.
The most recent Sandiganbayan resolution has created confusion because it appears there are now two ABC presidents, with Mam-baling Barangay Captain Rodolfo Estella refusing to leave, not because he covets the post, but because he is wary he might be charged with dereliction of duty without any order from the DILG.
In last Wednesday’s session, neither Estella nor Guadalupe Barangay Captain Eugenio Faelnar showed up.
Faelnar, who was replaced temporarily by Estella as ABC president, has also asked for clarification, considering that he and nine others have already started serving the 90-day mandatory suspension starting May 17.
Order
The suspension is not a punishment but an “automatic” order while the Sandiganbayan hears the case against the ABC officials led by Faelnar.
DILG-Cebu City had asked the mayor to implement the suspension.
When the mayor inquired through a letter whether he has the authority to do so, the Sandigan-bayan sent him the March 22 Minutes of Proceedings wherein the court advised him to hold the suspension in abeyance due to the motion for reconsideration.
But, once the anti-graft court resolves against the motion, the ABC officials will have to immediately serve the suspension again.
Gasoline
The suspension stemmed from a complaint of the ABC’s former engineer, Leah Rondez, whose claim for gasoline reimbursement was denied by the suspended officials.
As of the moment, DILG 7 Director Rene Burdeos said he is still waiting for their Central Office for guidance and could not resolve the matter yet.
“Rest assured we shall provide with the direction and guidance as soon as we get them from our Central Office,” he wrote Vice Mayor Michael Rama.
Rama is concerned because the ABC president is an ex-officio member of the City council, where he is the presiding officer.
In his letter, Burdeos said DILG’s legal services office “is still coordinating with the Sandiganbayan 4th Division for clarification. (RHM)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (April 22, 2006 issue)
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