Ex-Southern Leyte town mayor found guilty of misconduct

Former Saint Bernard Mayor Napoleon Cuaton. PHOTO FROM saintbernard.gov.ph

(Updated, 3:05 p.m.) The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the three-month suspension without pay of former mayor Napoleon Cuaton of Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte after he was found guilty of simple misconduct.

In a statement on Thursday, the Ombudsman said Cuaton in July 2013 deliberately failed to reinstate Administrative Aide I Gerry Mencide as directed by the Civil Service Commission, which earlier ruled that Mencide was illegally terminated without cause.

Cuaton even appointed another individual to replace Mencide, the Ombudsman said.

“It is clear that respondent Cuaton intentionally disregarded CSC’s order of reinstatement.  Instead of implementing the Decision, he issued two unnumbered Office Orders removing complainant from his position,” the Ombudsman said in its decision.

According to the Revised Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service, the administrative offense of simple misconduct is a less grave offense punishable by suspension of one month and one day to six months for the first offense.

The Ombudsman directed the Department of the Interior and Local Government regional office to implement the suspension order.

Cuaton, who belongs to the Liberal Party, lost the 2016 elections to Willy Calapre of the United Nationalist Alliance. Because he no longer holds office, Cuaton will just be fined penalties equivalent to three months pay. IDL/rga