BEFORE the order for his dismissal from service could be served, Aloguinsan Mayor Augustus Caesar Moreno tendered his resignation, effective today.
Moreno is among the seven Aloguinsan officials who were ordered dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman for the alleged anomalous purchase of food supplies worth P287,725 in 2010.
His wife, former mayor Cynthia Moreno, also faces arrest following her conviction of graft for the purchase of construction materials worth over P1 million without a public bidding in 2007.
"Due to personal problems that I am presently facing and in order not to hamper the services that the Municipality deserves, I am formally tendering my resignation effective Feb. 15, 2017," Moreno said in a letter addressed to Gov. Hilario Davide III, according to radio dyLA’s Facebook post.
Department of Interior and Local Government 7 Director Rene Burdeos, who was given a copy of the resignation letter, said that it is up to the governor to act on the resignation letter.
Under the Local Government Code, the local chief executive is authorized to act on the resignation of a mayor within 15 days.
“However, if the government takes no action within 15 days, then it is deemed accepted… Therefore, it becomes effective,” Burdeos told SunStar Cebu.
Vice Mayor Cesare Ignatius Moreno, the mayor’s son, will succeed as mayor, and the first councilor will assume as vice mayor, said Burdeos.