Norzagaray has new mayor after Ombudsman dismissed Germar

Dismissed Norzagaray, Bulacan Mayor Alfredo Germar (Photo from Mr. Germar’s Facebook page)

NORZAGARAY, Bulacan — Vice Mayor Geronimo Cristobal has replaced Mayor Alfredo Germar, who was ordered dismissed from service by the Office of the Ombudsman for grave misconduct when he hired consultants for the mayor’s office without the approval of the municipal council in 2013.

Darwin David, Bulacan director of the Department of Interior and Local Governments, said Cristobal assumed the mayoral post last week, after DILG served Germar the Ombudsman’s Aug. 3 dismissal order on Aug. 10.

The dismissal order enforced the Ombudsman’s decision, which was issued in 2015, but which Germar challenged in court enabling him to run and win the May 9 elections.

Germar had bested former vice mayor Arthur Legaspi, son of former mayor Feliciano Legaspi, who filed the complaint.

The dismissal order also forfeited Germar’s retirement benefits and permanently disqualified him from holding public office.

Germar has not issued a statement as of this posting.  SFM