Six-month suspension sought for Leyte mayor

TACLOBAN CITY — The Ombudsman-Visayas has recommended the six-month suspension without pay of the mayor of Leyte, Leyte for alleged abuse of authority or oppression.

The Ombudsman, in a five-page resolution signed by Mona Chica Cabanes Gillamac, said Mayor Arnold James Ysidoro abused his authority when he refused to sign a disbursement voucher of a Sangguniang Bayan member without any justification.

Records show that sometime in December 2000, Ysidoro changed the manner of disbursing the representation and traveling allowances (RATAs) and additional compensation allowances (ACAs) of municipal councilors from payroll to individual vouchers.

Effective August 2001, the salaries of employees were also released via individual vouchers.

Complainant Alfredo Doller, municipal councilor of Leyte town, alleged that since the new payment scheme was implemented, Ysidoro has displayed "oppressive, tyrannical and discriminatory behavior" by refusing to sign or approve vouchers of four opposition councilors, including himself.

In his counter-affidavit, Ysidoro admitted that the mode of payment for RATAs and ACAs of councilors was, indeed, changed from payroll to vouchers pursuant to the request of Sangguniang Bayan members.

He said the payment scheme was in accordance with the internal rules and procedures as embodied in a resolution passed on July 11, 2001.

Ysidoro insisted that he signed the vouchers of three opposition councilors, except for Doller’s which, he claimed, was never presented to his office for approval.