Cabahug wants court to reverse suspension order

CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue City Councilor Editha Cabahug vows to ask for reconsideration on the 60-day preventive suspension ordered by the court against her and seven barangay officials.

Cabahug said she will make the necessary move as soon as the order is formally served to her. The councilor said she only learned about her suspension from the newspaper.

Regional Trial Court Branch 28 acting Judge Raphael Yrastorza issued on September 23 an order placing her and seven others under preventive suspension for violation of the Section 13 of Republic Act 3019 otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

 Cabahug is confident that the order will not be served against her because of the ongoing election ban.

She is also confident that her son, incumbent Looc barangay councilman Raul “Skipper” Cabahug, and another councilman Jose Lozano Jr. will not be served with the order because they are already on their third and last term in office, which will expire on November 30.

Cabahug denied that she was giving the complainant, Jose Jaime Flores, a run-around   when the latter wanted to avail of his terminal leave. Cabahug said she was just protecting the funds of the barangay and was initiating queries coming from the different government agencies whether Flores’ claim was also valid.

“We have to protect the funds of the barangay during that time kay lisud magpagawas ug pundo nga pangitaonon pa sad, unya di diay angayan nga mahatagan busa queries were made first kay basin ug masayop sad ta,” Cabahug said.

She said that her queries have reached as far as the office of then president Gloria Macapagal–Arroyo and to the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

She said that queries were also made to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). Cabahug claimed that the DBM rendered an opinion that Flores was not entitled to such monetary conversion since CSC-DBM memorandum circular granting for commutation of leave credits only took effect on April 15, 2004.

Cabahug said that Flores was no longer a barangay official when the memorandum took effect since the latter lost in 2002 elections.

 â€œSo in good faith gud ang atong gibuhat nga pag protect sa pundo sa barangay and documents will show proof nga gi-workout nato ang guidelines kon pwede ba gyud ta kahatag or not,” Cabahug explained.

She added that if Flores wins in this case, he will create a precedent for other barangay officials who might also claim their leave credits even if they are no longer officials when the memorandum took effect.

“Nagpakilouy pa gani ko niya niadto kay gitawag man nako na siyang  tatay, nga ayaw na lang ug claim tay kay wa dyuy kwarta ang barangay maybe frustrated lang siya niadtong tungora kay wa naman siya makadaug balik,” Cabahug added.

Flores is demanding his P148,246 terminal leave pay from the barangay.

Barangay Captain Raul “Pukang”Cabahug, the husband of the councilor, believes that the issue was politically motivated because the elections are coming./FPL (FREEMAN)