Axed Palawan mayor may keep post for now

MANILA, Philippines – Mayor Lucilo Bayron of Puerto Princesa City in Palawan may keep his post for now despite a dismissal order issued against him by the Office of the Ombudsman over a nepotism case.

In a ruling dated Nov. 9, the Court of Appeals (CA) said the ombudsman’s order could not be enforced yet, as it has not become final. 

“In actual fact, the dismissal is not immediately executory. The assailed decision is devoid of any directive to the effect that the order of dismissal is immediately executory,” read the ruling penned by Associate Justice Japar Dimaampao.

The appellate court also cited the absence of a formal request from the ombudsman for the Department of the Interior and Local Government to implement the dismissal order.

The court issued the ruling instead of acting on the plea of Bayron for a temporary restraining order.

The CA said the petition was premature as the ombudsman has yet to resolve Bayron’s motion for reconsideration.

Bayron’s dismissal stemmed from his appointment of his son as project manager of the port security task force in 2013.

The ombudsman found the mayor and his son guilty of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best of interest of the service.

The mayor filed an appeal with the ombudsman on Feb. 1.  

He said the penalty was “too harsh and not commensurate to the alleged infraction.”