Pangasinan town mayor cleared in 2 cases

LINGAYEN, Philippines – The provincial board of Pangasinan has dismissed with finality two administrative cases filed against the mayor of Binmaley town for grave abuse of authority and misconduct.

Mayor Simplicio Rosario was cleared after the Sangguniang Panlalawigan adopted an earlier decision of the committee on good government and accountability for public officers during a session on Monday.

The first complaint against Rosario was filed by a certain Leon Castro, who questioned the mayor’s appointment of Armenio Escat Jr. as municipal administrator.

Castro alleged Escat was a US citizen and related to the mayor by affinity.

In its earlier decision, the committee said the office of the municipal administrator is not a career position and his term of office is co-terminus with the official who appointed him. 

On the issue of nepotism, board member Alfonso Bince Jr. said the prohibition affects only career positions, which refers to an office where the appointee may not be removed except for cause and after the conduct of due process and service of notice and hearing.

The second complaint, filed by Marilyn Zamora, stemmed from the mayor’s appointment of three persons as officers-in-charge in the permit and licenses, general services and human resource management offices.

The complainant alleged that the appointments violate the CSC memorandum circular.

But the committee said the appointees are qualified and their designation does not prejudice or interrupt public service in Binmaley.

“There was no grave misconduct committed as no proof was submitted showing a clear intent to violate the law,” the decision said.