Sandigan suspends Pampanga mayor

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has ordered the suspension for 90 days of the mayor of Guagua town in Pampanga in connection with the technical malversation case he is facing over the alleged anomalous renovation of a park in 2014.

In a resolution released yesterday, the anti-graft court’s second division directed the Department of the Interior and Local Government to enforce the suspension order on Dante Torres.

The Sandiganbayan said the suspension of an incumbent public official facing charges for a crime under the Revised Penal Code or any offense involving public funds or property and/or fraud on government is  mandatory under Section 13 of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

“Once the (case) information is found to be sufficient in form and substance, the court is bound to issue an order of suspension as a matter of course...There are no ifs and buts about it,” the resolution read,  quoting a Supreme Court ruling.

Based on the complaint, Torres disbursed P2.76 million to rehabilitate Manuel P. Santiago Park “without lawful authority.”

Graft probers said the fund was intended for the rehabilitation of the frontage of the monument of Guagua native playwright Aurelio Tolentino as well as the purchase of a refrigerator van and heavy equipment. – With Ding Cervantes