Poro mayor suspended over fertilizer scam

CEBU, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has ordered a 90-day suspension of Poro Mayor Edgar Rama, along with North Cotabato Governor Nancy Catamco, in connection with the P5 million fertilizer fund scam.

Rama is the principal accused in the corruption charges filed in 2004 stemming from the award by the municipal government of Poro, Cebu of a P5 million contract to Perzebros Co. allegedly without public bidding.

Catamco and her former husband Pompey Reyes owned Perzebros.

The contract was for the supply of 3,333 bottles of liquid fertilizer at P1,500 each. The Commission on Audit found that the procurement was overpriced by P1,092 per bottle.

Both officials claimed they still have pending petitions for certiorari before the Supreme Court with regard to the validity of the filing of the information in the anti-graft court.

Rama and Catamco were both charged for violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, also known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practiced Act, and Malversation under Article 2017 of the Revises Penal Code.

The court said the suspension order is mandatory in accordance with Section 13 of RA 3019.

The Sandiganbayan found no merit in Catamco’s claim that the law could not be applied in her case because she was a private individual when the alleged irregularities were committed.

The court said the law does not require or mention that an incumbent public officer must be in government service at the time of the commission of an offense or filing of a case.

In a resolution dated August 1, 2019, the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Catamco, thus ordering her the suspension as governor pending appeal.

A separate resolution dated August 20, 2019 also ordered the suspension of Rama as municipal mayor pending appeal.

“The Court is without any discretion to hold in abeyance the suspension of such accused public officer, even if the Court’s determination of the validity of the Information was raised on appeal. Thus, this Court’s duty to issue a preventive suspension order against accused Rama is not affected by the pendency of his Petition for Certiorari with the Supreme Court,” read the resolution.

The court furnished copy of the said resolutions to the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government for implementation of the order of suspension and to take action within 15 days from receipt hereof. — JMD (FREEMAN)