ONE-YEAR SUSPENSION WITHOUT PAY

THE penalty is too harsh.

This was the reaction of Asingan Mayor Heidee Chua who maintained that she and Vice Mayor Carlos Lopez Jr. did not commit any wrongdoing against their constituents and have since filed their respective motions for reconsideration seeking to amend the penalty imposed by Ombudsman suspending them from office for one year without pay.

Finally breaking her silence on the issue, Chua said that the one-year suspension slapped on her and Vice Mayor Lopez by the Office of Ombudsman over a simple misconduct – putting their photos on the town’s newly purchased ambulance and on other government projects –  and, only for a first offense, “is too harsh.”

The mayor said they already received a copy of the decision of the Ombudsman and are exhausting all legal remedies to seek the reversal of the suspension order.

Both officials were suspended for “simple misconduct, misconduct prejudicial to the interest of service and for violation of Section 5 (a) of Republic Act No. 6713 or the Code of Conduct on Ethical Standard for Public Officials and Employees in a decision handed down by Deputy Ombudsman Gerald Mosquera and approved by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales.”

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) was directed by the Ombudsman to implement the decision.

Chua said she nevertheless welcomed the decision of the Ombudsman on the complaint filed by Councilor Evangelina Dorao saying it is a wake up call to all those in government.

“At the end of the day, we were charged for simple misconduct. Who would not be shocked by the decision of the Ombudsman?” Chua asked.

Chua said the DILG memorandum circular No. 2010-101 that she and Vice Mayor Lopez allegedly violated does not prescribe any penalty for violations so it should only be treated a reminder to them and other local executives.

“This is a wake up call for agencies implementing the law, like the DILG and even Congress to amend the circular to fully define its implementing rules.

She said she had caused the removal of their pictures and names in the municipal ambulance on the first week of November last year after receiving the letters of Councilor Dorao.

“As far as I’m concerned, I did not harm my constituents by placing my picture and that of the vice mayor in the ambulance,” she said. “None of our constituents were hurt by our pictures”.

She said she and the vice mayor still continue to discharge their functions since they have not received a writ from DILG to implement the decision. (Leonardo Micua)

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