COTABATO CITY - The Ombudsman has suspended Vice Gov. Guimid Matalam of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao for 60 days without pay for failing to release the salaries of the ARMM agrarian reform personnel in Sulu, according to the Catholic station dxMS.
The report said Matalam, who also functioned as ARMM's agrarian reform secretary from 1997 to 1998, failed to pay the salaries of his former subordinates in Sulu during the period, prompting them to file a collective complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman.
Key officials of the office of ARMM Gov. Nur Misuari said the suspension order was issued as early as February but was served on Matalam only last week.
Matalam could not be reached for comment as of press time.
In another development, the Commission on Elections unseated Thursday Vice Mayor Jaime Gornez of Pikit, North Cotabato and ordered the proclamation of Harry Dalandag. -