Ousted Tuguegarao mayor to fight suspension order

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines – Mayor Jefferson Soriano vowed before thousands of supporters here yesterday to exhaust all legal means to overturn the order of the Office of the Ombudsman dismissing him for alleged abuse of authority.

“We will file a motion for reconsideration once we formally receive the order from the ombudsman,” he said. 

“I will continue to discharge my duties as your duly elected mayor until the order becomes final and executory,” he also told placard-bearing supporters during an indignation and prayer rally at the St. Peter’s Cathedral grounds here.

Civic leaders here deplored the ombudsman’s order, saying it is “too harsh” and “arbitrary.” 

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales ordered the dismissal of Soriano and city administrator Ronald Brilliantes in a resolution dated Aug. 20.

Councilor Maila Ting-Que filed a complaint against Soriano for abuse of authority and grave misconduct over the operation of a flea market and carnival during the city’s fiesta from August to September last year without authority of the city council.

Que is the daughter of former mayor Delfin Ting, whom Soriano defeated in the 2013 elections.

“Only because of a flea market, they would unseat a person voted popularly by the people,” civic leader Ronald Guzman told The STAR.

He added that putting up a flea market during Tuguegarao festivities is a tradition even during the incumbency of the Tings. 

Soriano, a former police official, had just reassumed his post in May following a 90-day preventive suspension by the Sandiganbayan for his alleged involvement in the P34-million helicopter scam. 

Soriano, who also served as police director for Cagayan Valley, was among those implicated in the helicopter controversy, along with former Philippine National Police chief Jesus Verzosa.