Palace takes nonpartisan stand in case of Quezon ally

LUCENA CITY—The Office of the President has displayed a nonpartisan stance when it dismissed the administrative charges filed by a political ally, Quezon Vice Gov. Vicente Alcala, against Gov. David Suarez, son of an opposition leader in the House of Representatives.

Malacañang, in a decision signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., dismissed for lack of evidence Alcala’s complaint alleging that Suarez and 10 provincial board members abused their authority when they passed in August a resolution that authorized the governor to sign several agreements with different national government agencies for the implementation of projects and programs worth P1.5 billion.

“While his complaint and reply are replete with insinuations and innuendos against respondents, no evidence whatsoever was presented by complainant Alcala,” Ochoa said in his decision dated Nov. 28, a copy of which was received by the governor’s office Thursday afternoon. A copy of the decision was obtained by Inquirer.

Ochoa added: “In the absence of evidence to the contrary and in light of the evidence presented by the respondents, the respondents not only enjoy the presumption of regularity in the performance of their official duties. The respondents have actually proven that there is no merit to the charges leveled by Alcala against them.”

Alcala is the elder brother of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, one of the Cabinet members close to President Aquino and a member of the President’s Liberal Party. Suarez is the youngest son of House Deputy Minority Leader Danilo Suarez.

Records showed that on Sept. 3, Vice Governor Alcala asked Mr. Aquino to suspend Suarez and Board Members Romano Talaga, Teresita Dator, Lourdes de Luna-Pasatiempo, Victor Reyes, Manuel Butardo, Gerald Ortiz, Rachel Ubana, Marvin Villasenor, Joanna Rose Martija and Donaldo Suarez.

Alcala said the officials violated the law by allowing the governor to sign memorandum of agreements (MOA) with different national government agencies without requiring the signature of the vice governor.

In his complaint, Alcala claimed that it was mandatory for the vice governor to be a co-signatory to the MOAs.

Ochoa affirmed an opinion by Anna Charise Mendoza-Bajas, provincial attorney, saying the vice governor’s signature wasn’t needed in the transactions.