Sandigan suspends Bacolod mayor

BACOLOD City, Philippines  – Mayor Monico Puentevella was suspended for 90 days effective yesterday on orders of the Sandiganbayan for alleged irregularities in the procurement of an Information Technology (IT) package when he was a lawmaker.

Councilor Carlos Jose Lopez handed reporters copies of the court order yesterday.

Puentevella was ordered to cease and desist from exercising the functions and privileges of his office for 90 days immediately upon receipt of the resolution.

He will give a statement on the matter next week, Puentevella said in a text message.

Puentevella has not yet received a copy of the resolution, according to his lawyer, Rayfrando Diaz.

“We will comment when we get our copy,” he said in a text message.