DILG chief surprised by court order stopping suspension of Caloocan mayor

MANILA, Philippines – Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo described as “very unusual” the order issued by a Caloocan court halting the suspension of Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri, but said the Department of Interior and Local Government would respect the order in the meantime.

Robredo, who signed the suspension order on Echiverri Monday morning, said he would refer the order of Caloocan Regional Trial Court Branch 128 Judge Eleanor Kwong to their legal office.

He said they were “simply implement(ing) the orders” of the Court of Appeals, which upheld Echiverri’s suspension by the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with some P38 million unremitted government employees’ contributions to a national pension fund.

The case was filed by Caloocan Vice Mayor Edgar Erice who would have been installed as acting mayor had Echiverri been suspended.

“It’s a very unusual situation… it’s a lower court restraining a higher court,” Robredo said.

“But just the same I’ll refer it to the appropriate legal office,” he added.