DILG serves Gica dismissal; vice mayor takes over post

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of the Interior and Local Government-Cebu province has served the dismissal order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman against Dumanjug Mayor Efren Guntrano Gica.

However, Gica was not around when DILG Provincial Director Jerome Gonzales served the dismissal order at 10:51 a.m. yesterday in his office.

Gonzales said he just posted the order on the door of the mayor’s office because no one of his staff received the order.

“Wala siya. Out of town kuno and wala pud ni-receive ang secretary. Among gi-post sa iyang office and good as served na to,” he said.

The FREEMAN tried but failed to contact the mayor as of press time.

The anti-graft body dismissed Gica for allegedly falsifying his liquidation report and supporting documents to conceal his "misappropriation" of public funds amounting to P10,000 in 2014.

The Ombudsman-Visayas found Gica guilty of dishonesty and grave misconduct and ordered for his dismissal, which carries with it forfeiture of all benefits, perpetual disqualification to hold public office, and cancellation of civil service eligibility.

Gica had already asked the Ombudsman to reconsider its decision.

In a motion for reconsideration he filed last week, Gica questioned the Ombudsman's order indicting him for malversation of public funds, falsification of documents, and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

He also filed counter-charges against former Dumanjug mayor Nelson Garcia, the principal complainant in the case – which caused his dismissal – for alleged malversation of public funds, falsification of documents, and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Gonzales said Dumanjug Vice Mayor Rainero “Rene” Asentista, an ally of Gica under the Liberal Party, officially assumed as the town mayor.

Governor Hilario Davide III said he was saddened by Gica’s dismissal.

“I’m saddened because he is a very competent mayor. Dako ang akong pagsalig niya,” he said.

The governor believed that someone “orchestrated” the speedy implementation of the dismissal order against Gica.

“Maong nagtuo ko nga kaning kaso duna gyod ga-orchestrate ngano dipadali-dali. I hope he will be able to get a temporary restraining order from the Court of Appeals. He filed a motion for reconsideration sa kaso and I’m confident that the charges against him will be dismissed,” he said.

Davide noted that the anti-graft body has been swift in its decisions, which he believed are “harsh.”

"I noticed ang Ombudsman paspas karon. Sauna ato silang sawayon kay hinay mo aksyon. Mga cases filed six or 10 years ago karon lang gipaspasan. Matan-aw nato nga sobra ra pud ka-harsh na ilang desisyon,” he said.

“So I think respondents public officials should be given the chance to move for reconsideration dili dayon dali-dalion pag-dismiss or suspend,” he added.

Aloguinsan Mayor

On the other hand, Davide said he has accepted the resignation of Aloguinsan Mayor Augustus Moreno.

“I accepted his resignation, in fact I wrote him accepting his resignation today (yesterday). He has personal problems to attend to,” he said.

Davide said he thanked Moreno for his service to his town and his support and cooperation to the provincial government during his mayoral stint.

“I wish him good luck. I hope he will overcome the personal challenges that he's facing now,” he said.  (FREEMAN)