ANOTHER municipal mayor from Cebu will face trial before the Sandiganbayan over alleged unlawful appointment of a town hall official in 2011.

The Office of the Ombudsman found evidence to charge Consolacion Mayor-elect Teresa Alegado with violation of Article 244 of the Revised Penal Code.

Alegado’s appointment of Engr. Danilo Capangpangan as the town’s General Services officer was invalidated by the Civil Service Commission for his failure to meet the educational and experience requirement for the position.

“As the appointing authority, Mayor Alegado is presumed to know the educational qualification required for the position of General Services officer at the time she appointed Capangpangan to said position, but she however, disregarded it in flagrant violation of Article 244 of the Revised Penal Code,” the ombudsman said in its resolution.

Lawyer Christian Bacus, Alegado’s legal counsel, said they welcomed the development of the case against the mayor so it can serve as a guidance for other local chief executives in terms of appointing an official.

Bacus, however, pointed out that when the CSC invalidated the appointment of Engr. Campampangan as the municipal general services officer (GSO), the mayor returned him to the position as project development officer.

“How come there can be an intention to commit a crime when it (the appointment) is subject for review of the Civil Service Commission?... We welcome this development on the part of the mayor. Whatever the decision is, it will serve as guidance for the local chief executives,” Bacus said.

Based on the case summary emailed by Alegado to Sun.Star Cebu, she appointed Capangpangan on Aug. 1, 2011.

On Dec. 19, 2012, Alegado received a resolution from the CSC invalidating the appointment of Capangpangan as GSO.

On Jan. 1, 2013, Alegado ordered Capangpangan to assume his previous position as project development officer 1.

In a separate interview, Alegado said Capangpangan was already assigned back to his old position when the case was filed on Feb. 13, 2013.

Alegado recalled that Arlene Panoncillo filed the case few months before the 2013 elections.

“The fact that Engr. Capangpangan was reverted to his former position as project development officer 1 effective Jan. 1, 2013 shows that Hon. Alegado had no intention to violate the law,” a part of the mayor’s case summary read.

Recently, the anti-graft office also indicted outgoing Barili Mayor Teresito Mariñas of nepotism over alleged irregular appointment of his brother, Aniceto, in 2007.

The anti-graft body charged Mariñas with violation of the prohibition on nepotism for hiring his brother, Aniceto, as the town’s human resources management officer.

The case for violation of Section 59, Chapter 8 Title I Book V of Executive Order No. 292 (Administrative Code of 1987) will be filed before the Sandiganbayan.

A certain Kim Carmela Veloso filed the complaint against Mariñas, the town’s vice mayor-elect, before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas in October 2010.

Sun.Star Cebu tried to get Mariñas’ comment, but he had not responded as of press time.