Sandigan orders DILG to implement Aloguinsan mayor’s suspension

A 90-day preventive suspension order against Aloguinsan Mayor Cynthia Moreno for a pending graft case will definitely be implemented

In an Aug. 22 statement, court clerk Estela Teresita Rosete of the Sandiganbayan’s first division said the suspension against Moreno was deemed final by the Supreme Court last March 19.

“The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall now implement the suspension of the accused as ordered in this court’s resolutions dated July 29, 2011 and Jan 18, 2012 if it has not yet done so,” Rosete said.

No copy of the Sandiganbayan order has been received yet in Cebu said Asst. Regional Director Elias Fernandez of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) but he said they will serve it once they get it.

In a phone interview, Mayor Moreno said she hasn’t received the order yet. A preventive suspension is not a penalty but an action taken to ensure that witnesses will not be intimidated and evidence won’t be tampered while the case is being heard.

Moreno was accused of buying steel materials from a private company without holding a public bidding in 2007.

The Ombudsman-Visayas filed the complaint in court.

Included in the charges were Aloguinsan municipal officials Pepito Manguilimotan, Nonela Villehas, Marilyn Flordeliza, Gertrudes Ababon, John Lim, Orven Nengasca and Emilia Celis.

The officials were accused of violating the anti-graft law in awarding the contract to Diamond Interior Industries Corp. to supply steel materials worth P1,190,037.50 for the new municipal building.

The case stemmed from the complaint of Felimon Georsua, who accused officials of awarding the contract without a public bidding.

He said officials tried to conceal the “irregularity” by falsifying the certificates of canvass of other bidders.

In her counter-affidavit, Moreno said a bidding was held on Aug. 25, 2007 which was attended by JAH Builders, Maliege G. Glass and Aluminum Center and Diamond Interior.

The Bids and Awards Committee gave the project to Diamond after it offered the lowest price.

All eight accused posted a cash bond of P30,000 to gain temporary liberty pending resolution of the charges against them. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol