CA orders reinstatement of Aurora governor

Dismissed Aurora Governor Christian Noveras

MANILA, Philippines — The Court of Appeals (CA) has ordered the immediate reinstatement of dismissed Aurora Gov. Christian Noveras, saying that the Office of the Ombudsman had erred in ordering his removal from the gubernatorial post on Dec. 13, 2023.

In a text message to the Inquirer on Tuesday, Noveras said his lawyer was preparing the necessary documents related to his reinstatement based on the CA’s order on Sept. 26.

“We are very thankful that the CA ruled in our favor and ordered my immediate reinstatement. Although we expect that the sitting governor will seek legal remedy, we are counting on the CA decision, which clearly states that we should be reinstated immediately,” he said.

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In a statement, Gov. Reynante Tolentino, a senior board member who took his oath on April 22, said he would turn over the gubernatorial seat to Noveras once the CA implements its order through the Department of the Interior and Local Government or any agency of the executive department.

In December last year, the Ombudsman ordered the dismissal of Noveras; his father, Vice Gov. Gerardo Noveras; and provincial government casual employee Michael Tecuico from the service after finding them guilty of grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and conduct unbecoming of public officials.

The Ombudsman ruled that the three knowingly took advantage of their offices and allowed the use of government resources to support their election campaign in 2022.

Former Dipaculao vice mayor and Board Member Narciso Amansec, in the case he filed in the Ombudsman on April 27, 2022, said he saw Tecuico printing campaign tarpaulins for the Noveras family inside a building at the Aurora Training Center in Baler town on March 30 that year.

Amansec said Tecuico was wearing a provincial government uniform and was doing the task during office hours.

The elder Noveras was the governor at that time, while his son was the vice governor. They switched positions for the May 2022 elections.

‘No control’

After the contending parties’ filed affidavits and counter-affidavits, the Ombudsman ruled in favor of Amansec on Dec. 13, 2023, which resulted in the dismissal of the three.

But the CA’s Special 12th Division reversed the Ombudsman’s order against the younger Noveras, saying that as the vice governor at the time, he had no power of control and supervision over the employees and resources of the Aurora provincial government.

It said the Ombudsman had erred in finding that there was substantial evidence to hold the younger Noveras liable for the administrative charges of grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and conduct unbecoming of a public official.

The CA also absolved the elder Noveras from administrative charges of grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service but affirmed the Ombudsman’s decision finding him guilty of conduct unbecoming of a public official. It ordered him suspended for a year.