Deretsahan
Malacaňang’s AO 22
By Bebot Villar
NOTHING miraculous about the order from Malacaňang. It was expected.
Many of the board members natin refused to believe it but last Tuesday May 12, they realized that what I said was true, that the order of the Office of the President is for Urbiztondo Mayor Ernesto Balolong Jr to STAY in his post pending appeal on the 60-day preventive suspension that was issued by the provincial board’s Committee on Good Government and Accountability of Public Officials. This means “STOP” ang implementation ng suspension order at “STAY” as mayor si Balolong.
Ang sabi ng two-page order from the Office of the President signed by Michael Aguinaldo, deputy executive secretary for legal affairs, granting Mayor Ernesto Balolong Jr’s appeal ay, “Pursuant to Section 9 of Administrative Order No. 22 dated October 11, 2011, Committee Report No. 12-2014 dated 24 March 2014 is hereby stayed pending resolution of the appeal.”
Yan na ang document na kailangang magpatahimik na sa issue on Balolong’s status whether or not he is suspended or not, hindi dahil marami ang kabilang sa lahing makulit.
Vice Mayor Martin Raul Sison doesn’t have to write na the Pangasinan Mayors’ League asking it to recognize him acting mayor na daw. (Marami pang government offices na sinulatan ni Mr. Sison but to no avail kasi nga maraming legal issues yan kaya to be safe, iwas- iwas muna, playing safe sila.
Si Mayor Balolong ay nagpa-presscon na and gave media a copy of the Malacaňang order. This should settle the issue once and for all on who is still the mayor here, at least for now.
Sobrang bait nga itong si Mayor Balolong dahil sa kanyang bahay na lang ito nag opisina while si vice mayor (na over-) acting mayor daw) held office sa munisipyo performing the functions of a local chief executive. Mahirap din pag malambot ka dahil aapi-apihin ka, Mayor! Laban dapat for your rights!
Konting background lang tayo because this case will become a useful basis for action ng mga iba pang mayors na atat na atat na ang kanilang mga kalaban na ma-suspend sila:
– The office of Gov. Amado Espino Jr issued the April 7 order for the implementation of the provincial board’s order placing Balolong under a 60-day suspension. It was served through substituted service by posting copy of it in his office on April 15. Naging substituted service dahil hindi daw makita ng inutusang mag-serve ng order itong si Mayor sa office niya.
– Balolong had his appeal dated April 16 readied but since April 17 was already a holiday for the Holy Week observance, he filed it at the Office of the President on April 21.
– Ito ang matindi. The mayor invoked Section 9 of AO 22 on Stay of Execution: “No execution of the decision/resolution/order appealed from is stayed upon the filing of the Notice of Appeal within the period prescribed herein, provided that the stay of execution shall not apply (a) where provided by special law and (b) in decisions/resolutions/order of the Department of Interior and Local Government pursuant to AO No. 23 (s. 1992) as amended. However, in all cases at any time during the pendency of the appeal, the Office of the President may direct or stay the execution of the decision/resolution/order appealed from upon such terms and conditions as it may deem just and reasonable….”
In Mayor Balolong’s case na walang sawang paulit-ulit inilalagay under preventive suspension, paano na ang trabaho nya? Para na siyang pinag babakasyon grande after being humiliated publicly while fiesta ang kalaban habang ang inaapi ay magmumukmok na lang.
Of course, Balolong was right to appeal his case sa Malacanang instead of the sanggunian. Obvious ba na mas gusto ni mayor kay Presidente sya humingi ng saklolo. Di ba Bokal Raul?
But I also believe in the integrity of the Sanggunian because I am aware that the chairman and his members ng Blue Ribbon Committee religiously study merits of admin cases filed before them. But there is the AO 22 so the accusers should already think twice or hundred times bago mag file ng kaso.
Dapat na aralin ng Sangguniang Panlalawigan ang AO 22 para hindi masayang ang kanilang precious time. I believe itong section na ito ang magiging sandalan ng mga mayors and other elected officials na pwedeng maharap sa administrative case.
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