Ombud suspends mayor for dishonesty

BACOLOD CITY , Philippines  – The Ombudsman has suspended the mayor of Victorias City in Negros Occidental for six months without pay for dishonesty.

Victorias City Mayor Severo Palanca was found guilty of dishonesty for allegedly issuing permits to a jai-alai gaming station according to a 22-page decision recommended by Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol on Nov. 21 and subsequently approved by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.

Also ordered suspended for six months was Victorias City permits and licenses division head Ramsy Panes.

Victorias City Vice Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca, the mayor’s nephew, said the Ombudsman decision cannot be implemented by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) yet, as they would still appeal the decision.

DILG provincial head Joy Maredith Madayag yesterday said her office has not yet received a copy of the Ombudsman decision.

Vice Mayor Palanca said the mayor was on travel and has not received the decision yet.

The complainant, James Francis Anthony Garcia, also a nephew of Mayor Palanca, alleged that city officials conspired and took advantage of their public positions in falsifying a public document denominated as “business permit” on June 23, 2010.

Garcia said the respondents made it appear in the permit that Victorias City sports office head Gaudencio Corona is the owner and operator of Dalisay Amusement Games and Recreation Station even if the entity did not exist.   (FREEMAN)