Isabela mayor suspended for fund ‘misuse’

ILAGAN, Isabela — Gov. Faustino Dy Jr. has approved a provincial board resolution suspending the mayor of Jones town for 60 days for allegedly using municipal funds to pay his own lawyers.

The suspension of Mayor Florante Raspado, which stemmed from an administrative case filed against him, was served last Thursday.

Raspado was accused of misconduct, dishonesty and abuse of authority for allegedly utilizing P50,000 in municipal funds to pay his own lawyers.

He also has a pending case with the Office of the Ombudsman and the Regional Trial Court over the alleged "ghost" delivery of office supplies worth more than P100,000.

Raspado took over as mayor following last year’s ambush-slaying of Mayor Jesus Sebastian. — Charlie Lagasca