CA nullifies former official’s suspension

The Court of Appeals in Manila. | BG PHOTO: COURT OF APPEALS WEBSITE

The Court of Appeals (CA) has declared the 2022 suspension of Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) Chair Arthur Casanova “invalid” and “with no legal effect,” saying that he was denied due process when he was suspended without any formal charge filed against him.

In a 14-page petition dated Feb. 28, the appellate court granted the KWF chair’s certiorari and prohibition appeal, which challenged the resolution and order of the Manila Regional Trial Court denying his petition for the issuance of injunctive relief, a legal remedy where a party is ordered to do or refrain from doing a certain act.

According to the CA, the invalidation of Casanova’s suspension would entail the payment of back salaries for the period when he did not receive his salaries and other benefits because of the invalid order of suspension.

Casanova was appointed as the chairperson of the KWF in 2020 during the term of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

On June 29, 2022, KWF Commissioners Benjamin Mendillo Jr. and Carmelita Abdurahman issued a resolution suspending Casanova from service from July 12 to Oct. 12, 2022, over his supposed failure to call and preside over the meeting of the commission. —JANE BAUTISTA

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