Samar provincial board suspends town mayor amid abuse allegations

TACLOBAN CITY — The provincial board of Samar has issued a 60-day preventive suspension against the mayor of Hinabangan town for alleged abuse of authority and oppression.

The preventive suspension of Mayor Elena Dieza was approved by Gov. Michael Reynolds Tan.

Vice Mayor Clarito Rosal has served as the acting mayor of the fourth-class municipality since September 22 while the town’s first councilor, Irene Francisco, assumed as acting vice mayor.

Dieza was suspended after six of the town’s councilors, including Rosal, filed a complaint at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan against her for grave abuse of authority and oppression, among others.

Dieza was accused of withholding the salaries of some officials who blocked the approval of the 2021 annual budget of the town.

Lawyer JC Guades, secretary of the provincial board, said that the 60-day preventive suspension against Dieza was made so she could not influence or suppress any evidence.

“There is no politics here,” he said.

Dieza, however, decried the move of the provincial board, saying she was not given any due process of law.

“I was not given the chance to explain my side. They just serve the suspension order signed by Gov. Tan,” she said in a media interview.

All six officials who filed the complaint against Dieza were not her political allies.

Dieza said that when she withheld the salaries of some officials, her intention was for them to tackle and approve the municipal budget.

“I have issued several communications to them, even asking them to have a special session just to approve the municipal budget but to no avail,” Dieza said.