Ombudsman dismisses 3 Mindanao mayors; 3 others charged

The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of three mayors and 27 local officials from Mindanao over grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service, while three other mayors were criminally indicted.

Aside from dismissal from service, Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno, Matanao Mayor Vicente Fernandez of Davao del Sur, and Ditsa-an Ramain Mayor Mamintal Adiong of Lanao del Sur were also perpetually barred from holding public office.

In an Oct.6 decision by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, Moreno was said to have committed grave misconduct over a settlement agreement with Ajinomoto Philippines without authorization from the Sanggunian Panlungsod, which was in violation of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code.

The said deal paved the way for Ajinomoto to pay only P300,000 instead of its original local business tax deficiency of P2.9 million.

On Oct. 5, the Ombudsman also approved the dismissal of Fernandez, who is facing criminal charges for the murder of a journalist. Fernandez, who was also criminally indicted for violation of Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code or the Usurpation of Official Functions, was found to have been discharging his functions as mayor while in jail.

Last month, three other mayors, four vice mayors and 30 other officials in Mindanao were criminally indicted for various charges, including violation of R.A. No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, malversation and failure to liquidate cash advances, and irregularities in procurement process.

On Sept. 22, the Ombudsman found probable cause to indict former CDO Mayor Vicente Emano for his willful refusal to implement a decision of the Civil Service Commission in violation of the Revised Administrative Code of 1987, which was final and executory.

The case rooted from a complaint filed by administrative assistant III Leonor Esparcia, who was transferred and detailed to the city library as watchman. Esparcia challenged her transfer before the CSC, which later ruled that she be restored to her original position, but Emano refused to implement the directive.

Tandag City Mayor Alexander Pimentel, meanwhile, was charged for violating Section 3(e) of R.A. No. 3019 for refusing to pay a member of Sangguniang Panlungsod his salaries, allowances and bonuses from July 2010 to June 2011, amounting to P485,369,24.

Mayor Diosdadi Pallasigue of Isulan, Sultan Kudarat was also indicted for willfully and deliberately refusing to implement the return to work order issued by CSC in favor of a municipal planning and development coordinator in March 2014.

The Ombudsman said Pallasigue was found to have acted with “manifest partiality and evident bad faith” in refusing to implement the order “without justifiable cause.” TVJ