MANILA, Philippines - Barely warming their seats, newly installed Puerto Princesa City Mayor Luis Marcaida and Vice Mayor Maria Nancy Socrates may also be dismissed in connection with the charges they are facing in connection with the alleged anomalous creation of a water district.
Marcaida and Socrates, who were sworn into office three weeks ago, were charged along with dismissed mayor Lucilo Bayron and eight councilors. Documents obtained by The STAR showed that prosecutor Margie Alpatura of the Office of the Ombudsman filed the complaint for alleged grave abuse of authority, grave misconduct and violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Government Officials and Employees and the Local Government Code.
The complaints stemmed from the passage of a resolution by the city council requesting Bayron to establish the Puerto Princesa water system, which was allegedly in violation of the Local Water Utilities Act.
A civil society organization represented by Jose Ma. Mirasol said the creation of a new water system was illegal because the Puerto Princesa Water District has been in existence for 41 years.
He said the water district is managed by a board appointed by the city mayor, its employees have civil service eligibility and the agency is audited by the Commission on Audit and administered by the Local Water Utilities Administration.
To strengthen the graft complaint against the city officials, Mirasol submitted to the ombudsman a copy of memorandum circular issued on Oct. 18, 2016 by Interior and Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno to all provincial governors, city and municipal mayors, DILG directors and other officials on the operational autonomy of local water districts.
In the memorandum circular, Sueno said water districts are autonomous agencies which should be allowed to operate with the least interference from the local officials but with maximum support and assistance from them.