Thursday, August 30, 2007 Preventive suspension of Radaza ordered lifted
TANODBAYAN Merceditas Gutierrez lifted the preventive suspension imposed on Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza for his alleged involvement in the Asean summit lampposts controversy.
Ombudsman Director Virginia Santiago confirmed that the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas received the order directing that the suspension be lifted yesterday.
The preventive suspension would have expired by the end of September.
The lifting means Radaza can now assume as the reelected mayor of Lapu-Lapu City and begin discharging the powers and functions associated with the post.
This also means that the mayor is now cleared of any possible administrative liability over the alleged highly anomalous procurement scam, by virtue of the Supreme Court’s Aguinaldo doctrine.
Hearing
“But the preliminary investigation on the criminal aspect of the case continues,” Santiago yesterday said.
Sixteen of the 17 other officials impleaded in the case, however, will remain preventively suspended.
Even after the preventive suspension expires by the end of September, they will continue to be under administrative hearing.
Radaza, about a week after he was proclaimed winner in last May’s polls, asked the anti-graft office to lift his preventive suspension.
He cited the Aguinaldo doctrine, which provides that re-election extinguishes an elective official’s liability over offenses committed during the past term of office, and “the good of the service.”
He also stressed the absence of any basis to continue his preventive suspension now that the parties involved have submitted their counter-affidavits. Also, investigators already possess all evidence needed to close their probe.
Assistants
Radaza, with 17 others, was ordered preventively suspended in an order Gutierrez issued last March 29 and which the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) implemented about a week later.
Other officials suspended were Lapu-Lapu City Engineer Julito Cuizon and his assistants, Fernando Tagaan Jr. and Rogelio Veloso.
Likewise suspended were former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 director Roberto Lala, assistant regional chief Gloria Dindin and assistant regional chief Marlina Alvizo.
Joining them were Pureza Fernandez, Cresencio Bagolor, Agustinito Hermoso, Luisa Galang, Restituto Diano and Buenaventura Pajo, also of the DPWH regional office.
Then Mandaue City mayor Thadeo Ouano, whose departure from government service has served to spare him from any administrative liability, was also impleaded. He still faces criminal investigation.
Mandaue City Engineer Hidelisa Latonio and her assistants, Gregorio Omo, Mario Gerolaga, Alfredo Sanchez and Rosalina Denque, were also preventively suspended. (KNR)
