"A few people cannot oust me," Tupas said in a press conference at the Capitol, a few hours after Undersecretary Wenceslao Andanar of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) confirmed the Ombudsman’s dismissal order in an interview with dyFM Bombo Radyo-Iloilo.
"I’m surprised. This is politically motivated," Tupas told The STAR after Andanar’s interview.
"We have the law. Let us just observe due process. Is there due process when you are removed from office without you knowing it, without you being heard?" said the governor, who is planning to seek a third term in the May elections.
The DILG, according to Andanar, will serve today the Ombudsman’s order which he said also disqualifies Tupas from further holding office in government.
DILG regional director Evelyn Trompeta, however, said they neither had a copy of the order nor was informed about it by their central office.
At the height of the "Garci tape" controversy, then Senate President Franklin Drilon and Tupas both asked President Arroyo to transfer Malacañang and seek refuge in Iloilo. A week later, the two withdrew their support for Mrs. Arroyo and demanded her resignation.
Andanar could not provide details on the grounds for Tupas’ dismissal. But the governor said it could be related to a case filed against him by retired Judge Virgilio Sindico over an alleged "ghost" financial assistance to provincial board members.
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez had created a panel to investigate the complaint, but Tupas objected, arguing that it was the DILG which had the authority to investigate local chief executives.
Aside from this complaint, Tupas also faces a number of criminal and administrative cases before the Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas, mostly over alleged illegal disbursements and malversation of government funds.
The People’s Graftwatch of Iloilo Inc., a non-governmental group composed of lawyers and other professionals, was behind most of these cases.
But Tupas accused Gonzalez of working for his dismissal, claiming that the justice secretary wanted Vice Gov. Roberto Armada to become the governor "so he (Gonzalez) can lord it over (this) city and the province."
Tupas also claimed that his opposition to Charter change through a constituent assembly and the entry of small town lottery also worked against him.
Tupas conferred with his lawyers yesterday for the filing of a petition seeking an injunction for his dismissal, arguing that he can no longer be removed from office because the election period has begun.
Andanar, however, said the issuance of orders dismissing government officials is not prohibited during the election period, adding that what are not allowed are orders for preventive dismissal.
"If they will remove me, I will ask them to just follow the law," Tupas said, citing the Omnibus Election Code.