Mayor in SC graft ruling says he’ll cling to post

San Pedro, Laguna—The incumbent mayor of this town said he is clinging to his post despite being barred from public office by a Supreme Court ruling that had found him guilty of corruption during his stint as head of the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA).

Mayor Calixto Cataquiz said the Supreme Court decision pertained only to his former appointive position as LLDA general manager but not to his elective position as mayor.

“The SC decision stated a penalty of disqualification from reemployment in government service and not a perpetual disqualification from public office as reported by some newspapers,” he said.

In an interview on Tuesday, Cataquiz said he is occupying his elective position as mayor “by virtue of an overwhelming mandate from our people.”

He said he felt the need to issue a statement after the reports stirred “widespread misinformation” in this town.

“We’ve been hearing a lot (about Cataquiz),” said Amelia Flores, a resident here. The mayor’s fate has also been hot topic among village officials and in tricycle terminals.

A source said officials from Guam, with which San Pedro signed a sisterhood agreement last year, were also confused.

Some politicians from other provinces “thought (Cataquiz) was already out,” the source said.

The Supreme Court, in its Sept. 14 ruling, upheld the earlier decision of the Office of the President that convicted Cataquiz of graft.

Cataquiz, who was LLDA general manager in 2001 until his ouster in 2003, was charged with disbursing P500,000 in

LLDA funds, misappropriating the agency funds as gifts for residents of this town, and other irregularities.