Sultan Kudarat governor suspends town vice mayor, 5 councilors
ISULAN, Sultan Kudarat—Sultan Kudarat Gov. Suharto Mangudadatu on Wednesday issued a 45-day preventive suspension against the vice mayor and five councilors of Isulan town in relation to graft allegations.
Suspended from their posts are vice mayor Lord Dean Castillo, and councilors Rene Aristoza, Mariblithe Cartujano-Garingo, Gina Belmes Dael, Ryan M. Dumaran and Clarice Lagdamen.
Provincial legal officer Lorenzo Balo said the suspension order stemmed from the complaints filed by the village chiefs of Kolambog and Dansuli against the said officials before the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
Balo said the suspension will still allow the said officials to air their sides in a proper forum.
The same officials were said to be facing charges for alleged violation of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, filed by the two village chiefs.
Castillo and the five councilors, in a statement, said they will abide by the governor’s order even if it is against their will.
Castillo said he and the other officials did not receive any subpoena from the provincial prosecutor’s office so they can air their side on the case filed against them.
“Our lawyers are working to challenge the order that we believed is unfair and oppressive,” they added.
“We maintain our position that we have done no wrong and we have only stayed true to our principles to give equal opportunity for everyone to be heard,” they further said.
Castillo said that the village chiefs who filed complaints against them have pending cases before the Sangguniang Bayan, filed by barangay workers who were removed from their jobs following the 2019 election.
