FOUR of the Capitol officials who were ordered dismissed from service sought the intervention of the Court of Appeals (CA) to overturn the penalty imposed against them over the 2008 purchase of the Balili beach property in Naga City.
Provincial Treasurer Roy Salubre, Provincial Engineer Eulogio Pelayre, Provincial Budget Officer Emme Gingoyon, and retired Provincial Assessor Anthony Sususco requested the appellate court to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) so they would be spared from the full weight of the penalties.
Salubre said yesterday they received the dismissal order before the Holy Week break.
While contesting the penalties imposed against them, Salubre said he, Pelayre, and Gingoyon have to stop reporting to work.
BENEFITS FORFEITED
Although Gingoyon has retired, he is seeking redress from the appellate court since aside from dismissal from service, their retirement benefits were also forfeited.
Salubre said they were not given due process of law by the Ombudsman which found them guilty of grave misconduct in relation to the Balili lot fiasco.
Since Salubre has been dismissed from service, Assistant Provincial Treasurer Manny Guial has taken over his place as acting treasurer.
The Office of the Ombudsman found Salubre, Pelayre, Gingoyon, and Sususco guilty of grave misconduct for the 2008 purchase of the Balili beach property in Naga City.
Also a recipient of the same sanction was suspended Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and former Provincal Board Member Juan Bolo.
However, Garcia and Bolo were spared from the full penalties under a legal doctrine that protects officials who are reelected to office, in this case the 2010 election./Reporter Ador Vincent S. Mayol