T’was yesterday : 1 Mayor, 3 top officials suspended and 1 convicted

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan and the Ombudsman issued three separate resolutions yesterday.

1. The Sandiganbayan has ordered the 90-day preventive suspension against Sipalay City, Negros Occidental Mayor Oscar Montilla, Jr. for delaying the implementation of the suspension order involving his  staff.

The anti-graft court directed Montilla “to cease and desist from performing and/or exercising the functions and duties as well as receiving and/or enjoying the salaries, benefits, and privileges of his present public position or any other present public position he may now or hereafter be holding effective upon notice and continuing for 90 days.”

The Office of the Ombudsman in Visayas indicted Montilla in January 2017 for repeatedly delaying the implementation of the Ombudsman’s suspension order against city employees Evangeline Seneres, Eva Sabusap, Fernando Balhin, Noel Villanueva and Renato Manilla.

2. The Sandiganbayan slapped as 90-day preventive suspension against three officials from the Department of Agriculture XI.

Facing suspension pending trial for violation of anti-graft and corrupt practices act are Senior Agriculturists Melani Provido; Isabelita Buduan, and Administrative Officer Marie Ann Constantino. The accused, used to be  members of the Technical Working Group on the procurement of disinfectants in 2012.

The Office of the Ombudsman found that the accused entered into a grossly and manifestly disadvantageous contract with FKA Agri-Chemical for the procurement of 38 drums of disinfectant amounting to P3,040,000.00, despite the existence of a lower bid from another qualified bidder amounting to only P2,647,308.00.

3. For failure to file his Statement of Assets and Liability (SALN), Busreu of Customs Special Agent was Wilfredo Sebastian was convicted by the Metropolitan Trial Court (MeTC) of Pasay City on two counts of violation of Section 8 of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees for failure to file his 2008 and 2009 Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs).

After changing his plea from”not guilty” to “guilty” MeTC Branch 48 Presiding Judge Allan Ariola sentenced Sebastian to pay a fine of P2,500.00 for each count, or a total of P5,000.00.-Newsline.ph