DILG reinstates suspended Camarines Norte gov

LEGAZPI CITY – The Department of Interior and Local Government has ordered the reinstatement of suspended Camarines Norte Governor Edgardo “Egay” Tallado late Monday afternoon.

Lawyer Zalman Uddin, legal officer of DILG in Bicol, personally handed over the order at the office of the governor, which acting governor Jonah Pimentel received around 5 p.m.

Tallado was ejected from his post after the Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon issued a dismissal order on January 10, which stemmed from a complaint filed by provincial veterinarian Edgardo Gonzalez concerning Tallado’s decision to fire him in 2012 only to be assigned as a public
information officer, a position the governor supposedly created for him.

But Tallado immediately reassumed his functions as governor even when he was still supposed to be serving a suspension order on July 2016.

Sherwin Mata, spokesperson of Tallado, said based on the Court of Appeals decision issued by the Special Seventh Division of the CA, it was found that the second reassumption of Tallado was only simple misconduct and not grave misconduct.

“I am thankful to Ombudsman, Court of Appeals and DILG that justice system is fair and truth really prevails particularly in my case,” said Tallado in a phone interview.

He said he would prioritize the strengthening of tourism, infrastructure and livelihood of fisher folk and farmers in the province.

Tallado is seeking reelection for the gubernatorial position in the 2019 midterm elections.