MikeLigalig.com

Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno on Tuesday ordered the immediate implementation of the preventive suspension orders slapped by the Sandiganbayan on Western Samar Governor Milagrosa Tan and by the Office of the Ombudsman on Bataan Governor Enrique Garcia in connection with two separate complaints for graft and other criminal charges filed against them.

In separate directives, Puno ordered the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) regional directors concerned to carry out the suspension of the local chief executives, in compliance with orders issued by the 4th division of the Sandiganbayan against Tan last Oct. 17 and by the Ombudsman against Garcia last Nov. 5.

At the same time, Puno directed Western Samar Vice Governor Jesus Redaja to assume the post of governor of the province in an acting capacity for the duration of Tan’s suspension, which will last 90 days as ordered by the anti-graft court.

In the case of Garcia, who was suspended for a period not exceeding six months without pay by the Ombudsman, Puno ordered Bataan Vice Governor Serafin Roman to assume the post of governor in an acting capacity.

The DILG chief likewise instructed the regional directors concerned to report on their compliance with the suspension orders within five days from the implementation of such directives to the Sandiganbayan in the case of Tan, and to the Ombudsman, in the case of Garcia.

“Let me point out that the DILG is merely implementing these preventive suspension orders issued by higher authorities against the two governors,” Puno said in a press briefing. “We are duty bound to comply immediately with these directives.”

The two governors were separately ordered by Puno to “cease and desist from further exercising the powers and performing the duties, functions and responsibilities” of their respective offices for the duration of their suspensions.

Besides Tan, the Sandiganbayan also placed on preventive suspension provincial administrative officer Rolando Montejo, provincial accountant Romeo Reales, provincial budget office Maximo Sison and property inspection officer Numeriano Legaspi in connection with eight counts of graft filed against them before the anti-graft court.

The Office of the Ombudsman lodged the cases at the Sandiganbayan against Tan and the four other public officials of Western Samar in 2004 based on the complaint of Fr. Noel Labendia, parish priest of the Diocese of Calbayog and founding leader of Isog Han Samar Movement, an anti-corruption group in the province.

The complainant accused Tan, Montejo, Reales, Sison and Legaspi of conspiring to approve the anomalous purchases of P16.1 million worth of supposed “emergency supplies” for typhoon victims of the province without the benefit of any public bidding.

In Garcia’s case, he and three other provincial officials of Bataan —- legal officer Aurelio Angeles Jr., treasurer Emerlinda Talento and administrator Rodolfo de Mesa -- were ordered suspended by the Ombudsman pending their trial on charges of plunder, falsification of public documents, and malversation of public funds in connection with the complaint filed against them for alleged involvement in the anomalous sale of a private property three years ago.

Puno also furnished Finance Secretary Margarito Teves a copy of the suspension orders against Garcia and the three other provincial officials since the provincial treasurer covered by the directive is under the latter’s office.

Puno asked the Department of Finance to inform the Ombudsman of its compliance with the Ombudsman’s directive.

According to the investigation conducted by the Ombudsman, the Bataan Provincial Government caused the tax delinquency sale in February 2004 of the properties of Sunrise Paper Products Industries, consisting of a paper plant and two parcels of land in Barangay Doña, Orani, Bataan.

The province acquired all the properties for the amount of tax delinquencies in accordance with RA 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991, there being no bidder during the public auction.

On March 5, 2005, the Bataan Provincial Government moved for the consolidation of its titles over the properties. But on April 21, 2005, Sunrise assailed the validity of the tax auction of its properties before the Bataan Regional Trial Court.

Two other creditors of Sunrise also filed their interventions in the said civil case.

Although Sunrise and the Bataan Provincial Government later settled their claims amicably, Josechito Gonzaga, Ruel Masino and Alfredo Santos — all former workers of Sunrise -- filed graft charges against Garcia and the three other provincial officials of Bataan before the Ombudsman. - PNA

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=16230.0