PAO regional exec suspended for affair with married cop

The head of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) in Central Visayas has been suspended for one year for having an illicit relationship with a married policeman.

PAO Regional Director Maria G-ree Calinawan was found guilty of “disgraceful and immoral conduct” by the Office of the Ombudsman, which looked into the complaint filed by 21 PAO lawyers and employees.

According to the antigraft office, the PAO official is unmarried but had a child 10 years ago with a policeman.

“The act of maintaining an illicit relationship with a married man comes within the purview of disgraceful and immoral conduct,” said graft investigation and prosecution officer Voltaire Africa, whose decision was approved by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales.

PAO Chief Persida Rueda-Acosta was ordered by the Ombudsman to see to it that the penalty against Calinawan is implemented.

In a text message to the Inquirer, Calinawan said she had filed a motion for reconsideration in the antigraft office to contest the ruling.

But she said the Ombudsman ruled that the verdict against her is executory, even pending resolution of her motion for reconsideration.

Calinawan’s suspension took effect on Sept. 1.

“I was found guilty on the basis of presumption. There is no proof at all that I had knowledge of his (policeman’s) marital status,” she said.

In 2008, Calinawan said a total of 11 administrative and criminal cases were filed against her, including accusations of graft, abuse of power and the issuing of memoranda based on unsubstantiated information.

But she said all cases were eventually dismissed except for one. “This [is] the only case that has nothing to do with my functions as a PAO employee,” Calinawan said, alluding to the complaint that she had an illicit relationship and bore a child out of wedlock.

“It really hurts me to think that there are some people who are happy [with] my misfortunes,” she added.

A fact-finding inquiry by the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas yielded documents that confirmed that Calinawan gave birth in Quezon City on Oct. 25, 2004.

Abelardo Yumul Jr., the child’s father, “acknowledged” the child, as shown in the birth record.

Police records in Camp Crame also showed that Yumul was married and a member of the Philippine National Police assigned in the National Capital Region at Camp Ricardo Papa, Taguig City.

Acosta was saddened by the suspension of Calinawan, whom she said had been a very effective public lawyer since the latter assumed office in April 2007.

“She is pitiful. She’s a single mother and here comes a suspension. Her work as PAO regional director wasn’t affected by what happened to her in the past,” Acosta told the Inquirer in a phone interview yesterday.

“Her work ethic is very good. She’s a good lawyer and administrator,” she added.

Despite Calinawan’s suspension, Acosta said operations at the PAO regional office would not be affected.

“Operations at the PAO shouldn’t be jeopardized. So far, everything’s fine. We haven’t encountered any problems in terms of operations yet,” she said.

While Calinawan is serving a suspension, lawyer Danilo Tenebro will serve as acting director of PAO-Central Visayas.

At least seven former PAO lawyers complained that their work contracts were not renewed by Calinawan after they signed the petition against the PAO-Central Visayas director.

Despite complaints, Calinawan continues to be trusted by PAO officials.