CA extends TRO on Echiverri suspension order

MANILA, Philippines -  The Court of Appeals (CA) has extended indefinitely its order stopping the Office of the Ombudsman from enforcing the preventive suspension of Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri for allegedly failing to remit over P37 million in city employees’ contributions to the Government Service Insurance System.

In a 13-page resolution released yesterday, the CA’s special 14th Division issued a writ of preliminary injunction enjoining the Ombudsman and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) from implementing the suspension order against Echiverri, city treasurer Evelina Garma, city budget officer Jesusa Garcia and city accountant Edna Centeno.

Associate Justice Agnes Reyes-Carpio, who penned the ruling, said the order was issued to preserve the rights of the petitioners during the pendency of the petition as well as to prevent any judgment that may be promulgated.

The CA also ordered Echiverri and the other accused to each file a P100,000 bond. Both parties were also directed to file their respective memoranda within 15 days.

Associate Justices Rebecca de Guia-Salvador and Priscilla Baltazar-Padilla concurred in the order.