BALER, Aurora ,Philippines – The provincial jail warden here, whose ouster has been sought by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) amid complaints by jail guards and prisoners, has gone on a prolonged leave of absence.
Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo has granted the request of provincial warden officer-in-charge Amado de Luna to go on a six-month leave in a move seen as tantamount to granting him a graceful exit.
Angara-Castillo told newsmen that De Luna asked to be allowed to go on leave because the latter, a civil engineering graduate, is planning to take the board examinations.
“He (De Luna) said he would undergo review in preparation for the board exam for civil engineers so I granted his request,” she said.
The 12-man SP, led by Vice Gov. Gerardo Noveras earlier recommended the reassignment of De Luna and prison guard Charito Bernardino.
The SP placed De Luna under investigation after board member Ruben Alipio Jr. delivered a privilege speech about the complaints being raised by the jail guards and inmates against him, among which are the alleged collection of P50 detection fee per inmate, mismanagement of funds, delayed wages and unliquidated cash advances.
De Luna, when summoned by a committee on personnel policies and administration chaired by board member Cesar Pimentel said he was willing to answer the allegations against him but only in the proper forum and provided he was accorded due process. He also called on his detractors to file a written complaint against him.