SUSPENSION TERM SERVED

ASINGAN—The town’s mayor and vice mayor were restored to their positions officially on Jan. 21 after they were suspended from office for one year without pay for placing their names and pictures on the town’s new ambulance.

Mayor Heidee Chua and Vice Mayor Carlos Lopez Jr. led the town’s flag raising ceremony attended by almost all town officials and employees, barangay leaders and Department of Education personnel.

Provincial Local Government Operations Officer Agnes de Leon said the two suspended officials didn’t have to secure an order from the Office of the Ombudsman or from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for their reactivation because they have already served their suspension stated in the Ombudsman decision.

She said all they needed to do was to inform the two agencies that they have served their sentences and have to return to their offices.

Acting Mayor Joshua Viray and then Acting Vice Mayor Mel Lopez also automatically returned to their original posts as vice mayor and councilor. (Mel Lopez is the brother of Vice Mayor Lopez Jr.).

The suspension of Chua and Lopez Jr.’s case stemmed from a complaint filed by Municipal Councilor Evangeline Dorao for simple misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service and for violation of section 5 (a) of Republic Act No. 6173 or the Code of Conduct on Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

 The Ombudsman ruled in part,” Respondents’ act of placing their names, images and initials on the municipal ambulance and schoolbags for public school students cannot be considered as grave misconduct in the absence of any showing that their action was tainted with corruption or a clear intent to disregard an established rule.”

The ruling added that although respondents removed their names and images on the municipal ambulance as demanded by the complainant, “they did not acknowledge complainant’s letters and inform her of the removal of their names and images on the municipal ambulance after they heeded her request”.

It added that the fact that respondents complied with the letter request does not exonerate respondents from being administratively liable for violation of the said law.

Reacting in a media interview, Chua described her thoughts as “happy and grateful.”

Lopez, on the other hand, said he is also happy to be back to serve again. (PhilStar Wire Service)

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