Negros Occidental town councilor suspended for absences

INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

BACOLOD CITY — The La Castellana town council suspended during a special session Monday, Nov. 20, a councilor linked to a police recruitment scam for a series of unexplained absences.

The council approved the immediate suspension of Councilor Donato “Natnat” Dumaguit for 15 days without remuneration and ordered him to pay a fine of P3,000 without prejudice to the filing of a case against him.

Councilor Leonardo Bacquian said the majority of the council members voted to expel Dumaguit from the town council, which would have to be decided and ordered by the court.

“They have instructed the council secretary to tap the services of their lawyer to file the charges seeking the expulsion of Dumaguit in court,” he said.

Dumaguit has had 13 unexplained absences from the council sessions.

Large scale estafa charges have been filed against Dumaguit at the Negros Occidental Prosecutor’s Office for alleged involvement in recruitment of 40 persons, most of whom were La Castellana residents, for jobs in the Philippine National Police, for a fee.

RELATED STORIES

La Castellana councilor faces suspension, removal from office

Negros Occidental town councilor faces raps over police recruitmen­t …