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Thursday, November 20, 2008
2 Abra mayors suspended
BANGUED, Abra -- The Abra Provincial Board (PB) has suspended Tineg Mayor Edwin Crisologo and Dolores Mayor Albert Guzman for 60 days without pay for separate administrative complaints filed against them.
Crisologo was charged with dereliction of duty, gross negligence, and abandonment of office for habitual absences, while Guzman was suspended for gross negligence and abuse of authority.
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Crisologo denied the allegation, but the PB gave weight on the statements of the witnesses, including some municipal officials, testifying that after the May 14 elections, "Crisologo's shadow was not even seen in Tineg."
Citing the 15-day unauthorized leave without formal leave of absence rule, which carries a punishment of disciplinary action and Articles 79 and 84 of the Rules and Regulations Implementing the Local Government Code of 1991 "on holding office," the PB found Crisologo guilty of the charges.
Governor Eustaquio Bersamin already forwarded the PB resolution on Crisologo's case to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for the enforcement of the suspension.
Estelita Cordero, lawyer for Crisologo, said in a media interview that the suspension was machinated by Crisologo's political foes.
She explained official documents reveal that the town center of Tineg is not in Agsimao as claimed by the mayor's detractors. It is in Caganayan where Mayor Crisologo is holding office, she said.
Cordero added that the tax declaration of the municipal site is in Agsimao. "Where is justice now in Abra when they can manipulate witnesses and facts (of cases)?" she asked.
Guzman, on the other hand, was ordered "to cease and desist from performing duties and functions" as mayor of Dolores.
His post will, however, be taken over by his wife, Socorro, the town's vice mayor.
DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno earlier ordered the immediate suspension of Western Samar Governor Milagrosa Tan and Bataan Governor Enrique Garcia in connection with graft and other criminal charges filed against them.
Tan was ordered suspended for 90 days by the Sandiganbayan pending the resolution of her cases, while Garcia was placed under preventive suspension for 90 days by the Office of the Ombudsman.
Puno pointed out that the DILG is merely implementing the preventive suspension orders issued by higher authorities against the two governors. (Ace Alegre/Sun.Star Baguio/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Dumaguete. (November 20, 2008 issue)
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