Sandigan suspends Gica

FOLLOWING his arraignment over graft, falsification and malversation charges, Dumanjug Mayor Efren Guntrano Gica has been placed on a 90-day preventive suspension by the Sandiganbayan.

According to an Inquirer.Net report published last April 5, the resolution from the Fourth Division, dated April 3, stated that Gica’s suspension is mandated under Section 13 of Republic Act (RA) 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

SunStar Cebu tried to reach Gica for comment, but he was not available as of press time.

Gica was reportedly given 10 days to challenge the order, but he allegedly did not submit a reply.

Inquirer.Net quoted a portion of the order written by Associate Justice Reynaldo Cruz, which read, “On 23 January 2019, accused [...] was arraigned and pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charges against him [...] The Court then issued an Order directing him to show cause within ten days therefrom why he should not be suspended pendente lite under RA 3019.”

The Department of the Interior and Local Government has been given a copy of the Sandiganbayan order for implementation, with instructions to inform the court of their action within five days.

The Inquirer.Net report added that Gica was also ordered to “cease and desist from performing function and duties” and “refrain from receiving benefits brought by his current office.”

Last year, the Court of Appeals merely “noted” Gica’s appeal to be reinstated to his position following the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman to dismiss him from service for serious dishonesty and grave misconduct in 2017.

The Office of the Ombudsman dismissed Gica from service for tampering with a restaurant receipt amounting to P11,435 to bloat the amount to P21,435 in 2014.

The ombudsman ordered the cancellation of Gica’s civil service eligibility and barred him from working again in government.

Apart from the dismissal, the ombudsman also indicted Gica for malversation of public funds, three counts of falsification of official documents and for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

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