Dumaluan steps down; Fuertes sworn as mayor
By KIT BAGAIPO
PEACEFUL STEP-DOWN. Panglao Mayor Doloriech Dumaluan delivered his brief remarks before he peacefully stepped down as town mayor after DILG Asst Director Pedro Noval served the 6-month suspension order 11 o'clock yesterday morning. Foto above shows Vice Mayor Pedro Fuertes taking oath before Noval as acting mayor of Panglao. Panglao Mayor Doloreich Dumaluan was finally served his 6-month suspension as Vice Mayor Pedro Fuertes was immediately sworn in to assume as municipal mayor by Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Assistant Regional Director Pedro Noval 11 o'clock yesterday morning.
Moments after service of the suspension order, Dumaluan rushed to Cebu City with lead counsel, Atty. Victor dela Serna to file a petition at the Court of Appeals (CA) Visayas for a temporary restraining order (TRO).
Dumaluan was in his office at the town hall yesterday morning with his staff when Noval handed his suspension order which was meted by the Office of the Ombudsman last January 12.
Dela Serna received the order in behalf of the mayor who delivered a short talk at the municipal hall infront of some 100 employees and supporters.
As promised by Dumaluan, he stepped down from office peacefully 11 o'clock yesterday morning.
Vice Mayor Fuertes, on the other hand, who was in his office at the municipal hall, was sworn in by Noval minutes after serving Dumaluan's suspension order.
Efforts to interview Fuertes yesterday proved futile as he conducted a series of meetings with Panglao officials to implement his duties as acting mayor.
Fuertes was also instructed by Noval to issue a memorandum to the municipal chiefs of offices informing him that he is assuming in an acting capacity as mayor while Dumaluan is suspended.
SECURING TRO
According to Noval, Dumaluan is given 10-days to secure a TRO starting yesterday and another 5-days to get an injunction at the appellate court.
Dumaluan said in his speech that he is optimistic a restraining order will be granted by the CA while claiming he was not given due process with the implementation of the suspension.
The mayor said he has complete records and documentation on the case filed against him to discredit the Ombudsman decision.
BACKGROUND
The 6-month suspension stemmed from an administrative case filed by Panglao councilors Telesforo Mejos, Cerino Hormachuelos and Dennis Hora with municipal treasurer Rena Guivencan and budget officer Catalino Sumaylo.
The case arose from the mayor's alleged collection of gasoline allowances for his personal vehicles.
Dumaluan will be serving his suspension without pay and benefits for six months.
The Ombudsman decision found Dumaluan administratively guilty of 'simple misconduct' and that there is "substantial evidence proving that [Dumaluan] charged to the account of the municipality in the amount of P5,661.23" gasoline and diesel fuel expenses "supplied to his private vehicles."
Suspended with Dumaluan is municipal accountant Elvira Celnuar, who is meted a one-month suspension without pay and benefits for 'simple neglect of duty'.
taken from bohol chronicle.
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