DILG suspends Aloguinsan mayor for 90 days

Representatives of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) yesterday served the 90-day suspension order on Aloguinsan Mayor Cynthia Moreno.

Moreno was attending a seminar in a resort in Toledo City when DILG regional director Ananias Villacorta served the suspension order issued by the Sandiganbayan.

The Sandiganbayan order was deemed final by the Supreme Court last March 19.

Moreno faces an old graft case over a supply contract for steel materials for the Aloguinsan Municipal Hall that was allegedly awarded without public bidding in 2007.

Last Aug. 22, the Sandiganbayan released a copy of the suspension order to the DILG. Moreno and seven other officials impleaded in the case posted a P30,000 cash bond.

Also suspended were the town’s civil registrar Pepito Manguilimotan, budget officer Nonela Villegas, agricultural officer Marilyn Flordeliza, municipal assessor John Lim, municipal engineer Orven Nengasca and utility worker Gertrudes Ababon.

The case stemmed from the complaint of former Aloguinsan councilor Felimon Georsua who accused officials of buying steel materials from a private company without public bidding in 2007.

Moreno was then vice mayor while her husband Augustus Moreno was mayor.

The contract to supply steel materials worth P1,190,037.50 for the new municipal building went to the Diamond Interior Industries Corp.

The Ombudsman-Visayas filed the complaint in court.

Moreno and the other town officials tried to file a motion for reconsideration before the Sandiganbayan.

However, their motion was denied for lack of merit on January last year. /Correspondents Peter L. Romanillos and Carine M. Asutilla