Mayor draws suspension for absences

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The provincial board of Sultan Kudarat has imposed a 30-day preventive suspension against a municipal mayor for habitual absenteeism.

Acting on a complaint, the board found “strong evidence” to suspend Mayor Abubakar Maulana of Palimbang town for grave abuse of authority. The official could not be reached for comment as of press time.

Francis Eric Recinto, chairman of the blue ribbon committee, said the board unanimously approved the resolution during its regular session after conducting a committee hearing.

Recinto, the main sponsor of the resolution, said he had originally proposed a 60-day suspension against Maulana but his colleagues cut it in half, believing that the investigation could be completed in 30 days.

The suspension was only aimed at preventing the mayor from influencing the outcome of the investigation, he said. Aquiles Z. Zonio, Inquirer Mindanao