Ombudsman suspends mayor over boat sinking

The Ombudsman has ordered the three-month suspension of Dalaguete, Cebu Mayor Ronald Allan Cesante for “directly being responsible” for the sinking of a fishing boat during the onslaught of Typhoon “Queenie” in 2014.

In a statement on Monday, the Ombudsman media bureau said Cesante was found guilty of the administrative offense of simple misconduct and neglect of duty.

The fishing boat, owned by Rusell and Jowleyn Heredia, was in the custody of town officials after it was seized for violation of the Fisheries Code. However, it sank on Nov. 26, 2014, when the typhoon hit Cebu, despite the Heredias’ repeated pleas to relocate the boat to a safer location.

“The record establishes respondents’ failure to preserve the vessel seized … The respondents [gave] the complainants the run-around to avoid the responsibility of giving the clearance to move the vessel. Their failure to act on said requests constitutes negligence,” the Ombudsman ruled.

Also suspended were municipal administrator Rydal Cisneros, police chief Clito Pia, division head Almar Villahermosa, agricultural technician Juana Tangpos, Peter Bejarasco, and municipal deputy fish wardens Felipe Calisang and Juan Millan.—VINCE F. NONATO