CA voids suspension of 'euro general'

MANILA, Philippines - The Court of Appeals (CA) yesterday set aside an order earlier issued by Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez placing one of the so-called euro generals under preventive suspension due to the controversial Russian trip in 2008.

In a 14-page decision of the CA’s fourth division, penned by Associate Justice Josefina Guevarra-Salonga, the appellate court overturned the order of Gutierrez placing Chief Superintendent Tomas Rentoy III under preventive suspension.

Gutierrez earlier suspended Rentoy for his alleged involvement in the unlawful disbursement of funds of the Philippine National Police in the amount of P2,314,096.

The CA said that it found that a grave error was committed by the Ombudsman when it considered Rentoy to be involved in the disbursement.

“Even the public respondent (Ombudsman), in its comment, only made generalized allegations of the discretionary power of the Ombudsman to issue the preventive suspension and the supposed strong evidence of guilt against Rentoy III, without specifically pointing out or enumerating the acts on which the preventive suspension was based,” the decision said.