Probe on Isabela vice mayor continues

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines – Although the Isabela provincial board heeded Malacañang’s order lifting the 60-day preventive suspension on Gamu town Vice Mayor Fernando Cumigad, it finds no reason to suspend as well its investigation on the local executive.

The board presided by Vice Gov. Antonio Albano agreed on Tuesday to push through with the investigation of Cumigad, former Gamu mayor, who was accused of grave abuse of discretion by his successor, Mayor Nestor Uy. If found guilty, Cumigad faces 60-day suspension.

Last Dec. 26, Gov. Faustino Dy III signed the preventive suspension imposed by the provincial board against Cumigad while his case is being investigated.

However, Cumigad filed an appeal with the Office of the President and Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa sent on Jan. 17 an order of stay on the prevention suspension as the vice mayor was allegedly not given ample opportunity to scrutinize the accusations against him.

Albano said Cumigad’s preventive suspension was imposed so he could not influence his former subordinates in the municipal government during the course of the investigation.

Cumigad’s case stemmed from his alleged refusal to turn over to the Gamu municipal government the Nissan Bravado that was assigned to him during his stint as mayor until it figured in a road mishap in Nueva Vizcaya in August last year.

Cumigad, a Liberal Party stalwart, was one of the closest political allies of Comelec Commissioner Grace Padaca during her two-term stint as Isabela governor.