Palace suspends Sta. Rosa mayor

SANTA ROSA CITY, Laguna — The office of the President has issued a six-month suspension order to Sta. Rosa Mayor Jose Catindig Jr., though the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), for abuse of authority and grave misconduct.

The suspension order stemmed from the complaint of two city hall employees — Nelia Carvajal and Erlinda Creencia — before Malacañang and the Civil Service Commission that they were illegally transferred to another depatment.

The re-assignment was reportedly done a month after Catindig assumed office after the death of former mayor Leon Arcillas.

In a six-page decision signed by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Catindig was adjudged guilty of oppression and abuse of authority on two counts and and was slapped with a penalty of three months suspension for each case.

In a press conference held inside his office yesterday, Catindig, however, insisted that he has not officially received the copy of the Malacañang order.

"This is pure harassment and politically motivated," he said.

Tension gripped the Santa Rosa City Hall yesterday as the mayor awaited the suspension order from Malacañang.

Hundreds of his constitutents, including the 18 barangay chairmans, government employees and Santa Rosa business group assembled before the City Hall and the city plaza to support him.

Catindig, however, called for sobriety among supporters as rumors circulate that the Arcillas camp plans to storm the City Hall once the suspension order is served.

During the press conference, Catindig insisted that he did not violate any civil service regulations since the complainants were already occupying two positions when he took over as mayor in 2005.

Catindig also appealed to all local chief executives, barangay officials, and Court of Appeals justices to be more vigilant in what’s happening in Santa Rosa.

He said that if the suspension order is served, he would file a Temporary Restrain Order (TRO) at the Court of Appeals. — With Ed Amoroso