Urbiztondo mayor faces 4th administrative case
LINGAYEN—Mayor Ernesto Balolong Jr. of Urbiztondo town is facing yet another administrative case, the fourth filed by the same complainant.
The new complaint, filed last May 16 by former municipal treasurer Loida Cancino, was for grave misconduct in office, dishonesty, dereliction of duty, violation of the National Health Insurance Act (R.A. 7875, as amended by R.A. 10606) and the Local Government Code of 1991.
The mayor of Urbiztondo town faces his fourth administrative case filed by his perennial accuser on May 16 at the provincial board of Pangasinan’s Committee on Good Government and Accountability of Public Officials.
Balolong, however, is unfazed by the new case saying his lawyers are ready with the documents that would prove his innocence.
He added that he hopes his political opponents would soon stop with the filing of cases and instead work with him for the town’s development.
“These are distractions towards pursuing our goal to bring progress to our town. But I would not let these stop me. The modest gains we have gained under my administration are clear proofs that we remain focused in our work,” Balolong said.
In her complaint, Cancino said records show that from July to December 2013 and January to February 2014, deductions for PhilHealth contributions were made from the payrolls of officials and employees of the local government unit of Urbiztondo amounting to almost P3 million but the municipal government failed to remit the fund to PhilHealth.
Cancino said that on April 11, 2014, the regional office of PhilHealth sent a demand letter to the local government of Urbiztondo directing it to remit the membership contributions for the said period.
Balolong, on the other hand, said these dues have already been settled.
Cancino earlier filed separate administrative cases against the mayor over a P52.4 million loan from the Philippine National Bank (PNB) to finance the town’s projects.
The provincial board issued a 60-day preventive suspension against the mayor but Malacanang overturned the ruling through an order granting Balolong’s appeal to stop its implementation.
Cancino again filed administrative complaints against the mayor on alleged unpaid monthly premiums of the employees to the Government Service Insurance System, and Pag-IBIG Fund. (Tita Roces)
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