Olongapo mayor asks Ombudsman to hold off his suspension order

Olongapo Mayor Rolen Paulino on Tuesday appealed to the Office of the Ombudsman to hold off its suspension order against him and other local officials as the city remains under a state of calamity over leptospirosis cases.

The Ombudsman has ordered the suspension of the local chief executive for a “simple misconduct” over alleged irregularities in the city government’s lease agreement with a mall operator in the country.

“Gusto ko pong ipaalala na kami po ay nasa state of calamity pa (I want to remind that we are still under a state of calamity),” he told Radyo Inquirer.

“Matapos lang po ito, ako mismo, hindi kayo magkakaproblema sa akin. Alam naman na ang Philippine record holder po ng leptospirosis ay Olongapo, kaya alanganin pa,” he said.

(Let this finish first, then you won’t have a problem with me. We know that the Philippine record holder of leptospirosis is Olongapo.)

He said the sanction for simple misconduct should have been only for one or two weeks instead of six months ordered by the Ombudsman.

Paulino also said the order could be rooted from politics since he became the local chief executive instead of a member of Gordon clan that has led the city for years.

“Masakit po sabihin, pero sa tagal po kasi ng panahon, ngayon lang po natalo ang Gordon nang dalawang sunod,” he said.

(It hurts to say, but after a long time, the Gordon clan have been only defeated twice now.)

“Ang hinihiling ko po sa Ombudsman ay talagang tingnan yung kaso (I hope the Ombudsman will really look into the issue), he said.   /vvp