PB’s decision known today

CEBU, Philippines - The Provincial Board will decide today whether or not to approve the recommendation of the committee on complaints and investigation meting out a six-month suspension on a town mayor after he was found guilty of abuse of authority.

Another recommendation that the board will take into consideration in today’s regular session is the administrative complaint for grave abuse of authority and oppression against a component city mayor in the south.

The body will deliberate this afternoon whether or not to adopt the separate recommendations of the committee. The committee on complaints and investigation chaired by PB Member Arleigh Sitoy recommended for the suspension of Dumanjug Mayor Nelson Garcia.

The same committee recommended for the dismissal of the complaint against Carcar City Mayor Nicepuro Apura.

Vice Governor Agnes Magpale said they have yet to discuss the voting scheme after the deliberation on the cases this afternoon. These two cases filed before the PB a year ago would be the first ones to be resolved. The case against Apura was filed in May 21, 2014 while the case against Garcia was filed in September 16, 2013. There are still 20 other cases pending before the PB, according to PB secretary lawyer Pulchra Marie Acevedo.

The case for grave misconduct and grave abuse of authority against Garcia stemmed from his appointment of the SB secretary. Vice Mayor Efren Guntrano Gica questioned Garcia’s making the appointment claiming that the authority belongs to the vice mayor.

Gica said that Garcia’s hiring of Emmylou Cabonillas as the council secretary constitutes usurpation of power because the appointment of an SB secretary was supposed to be his job.

Garcia contended that it was Gica who usurped because the latter appointed his own secretary without the mayor declaring the filling up of the vacant position.

Garcia said the vice mayor can only exercise his appointing authority to fill a vacant career position such that of SB secretary only after the local chief executive has decided to fill up the vacancy.

While the investigation on the complaint was ongoing, Governor Hilario Davide III implemented in April last year a 60-day preventive suspension against Garcia following the PB’s recommendation.

Apura’s case, on the other hand, was filed by Councilor Archilles Gantuangco. The city councilor accused the mayor of berating him in public and making baseless accusations against him.

However, the investigating committee found the complaint wanting of evidence. According to the investigating committee, Gantuangco did not present any other affidavit and “clear and convincing evidence” to support his claim.— Michael Vencynth H. Braga/FPL

(FREEMAN)