BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia said Monday, March 27, that he is thankful that the Court of Appeals (CA) Visayas granted his application for writ of preliminary injunction against the dismissal order of the Office of the Ombudsman.
"This may not be the ultimate, but this is a major victory for the cause of the Grupo Progreso," the mayor said.
Leonardia, along with allies Representative Greg Gasataya, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, Councilors Dindo Ramos, Renecito Novero, Caesar Distrito, Em Ang, and Bartolome Orola, and the Grupo Progreso supporters attended a thanksgiving mass at the Bacolod Government Center on Monday.
Leonardia's supporters wore red shirts, and carried streamers, which read "Mayor sang Pumuluyong Bacolodnon," "One for all, all for one," and "Justice Prevails."
Also present were several barangay captains and village councilmen.
On March 22, the CA Visayas Station 18th Division in Cebu City issued the writ of preliminary injunction. The four-page resolution was signed by Associate Justice Germano Francisco Legaspi and concurred by Executive Justices Gabriel Ingles and Marilyn Lagura-Yap.
Leonardia was initially granted a 60-day temporary restraining order by the CA 18th Division, which he sought after the Ombudsman ordered him and nine other respondents dismissed.
They were found guilty for grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty in the procurement of furniture and fixtures for the Bacolod Government Center worth almost P50 million in 2008.
In February, the Department of the Interior and Local Government-Bacolod served the dismissal order of former Bids and Awards Committee chairperson Goldwyn Nifras, Department of Public Services head Nelson Sedillo Sr., City Engineers Belly Aguillon, Aladino Agbones and Jaries Ebenizer Encabo, BAC Secretariat head Melvin Recabar, former city budget officer Luzviminda Treyes, and former city accountant Eduardo Ravena.
With the preliminary injunction, the mayor has been ordered to post a bond of P100,000.
"We know this will mean a number of rounds to go, but at least we won on these rounds. Our legal team are also working to ensure that they will get a good result on the case," he said.
He added that he is thankful for the support of his supporters who are with him in times of crisis.
On Sunday, the mayor had a meeting with his co-accused and he said that they understand the situation.
Leonardia said he believes the CA will take up their cases individually to check their participation on the alleged allegations against them.
"We cannot predict the decision of the court. This case has made Grupo Progreso even more united and stronger now. I'm going to go through all of this and I'm going to fight this for the people of Bacolod," he added.