Ombudsman asked to suspend Abra town execs charged with plunder

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman has been asked to issue preventive suspension orders against the members of a political family in the province of Abra who were charged with a P133.9-million plunder complaint last month.

In a supplemental affidavit filed yesterday, Bernadine Joson, municipal planning and development coordinator and concurrent Sangguniang Bayan secretary of Lagayan town, said former Lagayan mayor Cecilia Seares Luna and her son Jendricks, president of the Association of Barangay Captains in the municipality and Mayor Purificacion Paingan should be suspended to ensure an impartial and unimpeded investigation of the case against them.

Joson also sought the suspension of municipal treasurer Marissa Donato, municipal accountant Meno Dickenson and municipal engineer Osborne Dolaoen.

“I pray that respondents who are incumbent public officials be immediately suspended from public office for the maximum period of six months or 180 days without pay as provided by law,” Joson’s affidavit read.

 Joson also provided a list of the alleged ill-gotten wealth of the respondents in her affidavit.

Joson filed plunder, graft, technical malversation, and other charges against the Luna family, citing what she described as “big-time corruption in a small town.”