Pampanga mayor suspended over use of park rehab funds

GUAGUA, Pampanga — The Sandiganbayan Second Division has ordered the 90-day suspension of Guagua Mayor Dante Torres, while he faces a technical malversation case.

The case stemmed from the alleged illegal use of P2.76 million for the rehabilitation of the Manuel P. Santiago Park in 2014.

The complaint was filed by Juan Pring, Torres’ former ally.

Torres said he would ask the Sandiganbayan to reconsider its order, claiming the preventive intention of the order had no more basis, since all documents had been transmitted to the court.

Torres said he had not received an official copy of the March 6 resolution, in which Sandiganbayan cited a provision of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act that made it mandatory to suspend public officials who faced charges “involving fraud upon government or public funds or property.”

He said the local development council approved the project. Torres returned to work in July last year, after serving two suspension orders from the Office of the Ombudsman.

The first case, also filed by Pring, involved the mayor’s signing of a certificate of marriage he did not solemnize.

The second complaint originated from the same case with the Sandiganbayan. —Reports from Tonette Orejas and Vince F. Nonato