Sandiganbayan places Cebu town mayor on 90-day suspension

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has placed Mayor Efren Guntrano Gica of Dumanjug town in Cebu on a 90-day preventive suspension following his arraignment over graft, falsification, and malversation charges.

The resolution from the Fourth Division dated April 3 stated that Gica’s suspension is mandated under Section 13 (Suspension and loss of benefits) of R.A. 3019 or the Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The Sandiganbayan said Gica was given a chance to challenge the order within 10 days, but he did not submit a reply.

“On 23 January 2019, accused […] was arraigned and pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charges against him […] The Court then issued an Order directing him to show cause within ten days therefrom why he should not be suspended pendente lite under R.A. 3019,” the anti-graft court stated in the document written by Associate Justice Reynaldo Cruz.

“Gica failed to file any answer to such Order despite the period of time given for him to do so; thus the subject Informations are deemed valid,” Cruz further stated in the resolution concurred by Associate Justices Alex Quiroz and Bayani Jacinto.

Gica is facing graft raps after he allegedly falsified restaurant receipts to make the amount spent appear bigger than the original price.

Sandiganbayan has furnished the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) a copy of the order for implementation, with instructions to inform the court of their action within five days.

Gica was also ordered to “cease and desist from performing function and duties” and “refrain from receiving benefits brought by his current office.” /ee