Suspended Catanduanes government told to vacate post

CATANDUANES, Philippines — Catanduanes Gov. Joseph Cua, who reassumed his post on Wednesday, has been asked to leave the office.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Cua, who was suspended for one year in connection with the graft charges he is facing, has to serve his suspension until April 30.

“He cannot install himself unilaterally... His... act is tantamount to usurpation of authority which can be another case against him if he insists,” Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said in a statement issued on Friday.

The DILG-Bicol office said Cua sent a memorandum to various departments of the provincial government saying he has reassumed office. 

Año said Vice Gov. Shirley Abundo remains as acting governor.

Cua’s suspension stemmed from an administrative complaint filed by a certain Rey Mendez, claiming the governor allowed a construction firm owned by Mayor Eulogio Rodriguez of Bato town to use a lot owned by the provincial government free of charge without approval from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

Camarines Norte gov

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court (SC) has been asked to clarify its September 2019 decision reversing a ruling of the Commission on Elections that disqualified Camarines Norte Gov. Edgar Tallado from running for governor in the last midterm polls.

A nine-page motion filed on Jan. 7 by Norberto Villamin and Senandro Jalgaldo, who lodged the disqualification complaint against Tallado, cited a letter they received from the SC on Dec. 5, saying the court has yet to release the official copy of the decision.

“It would be sent to the parties once it is promulgated,” the SC letter added.

Villamin said the decision appeared on the SC website on Dec. 19.

“When did the court promulgated the decision? When was the office of the Chief Justice informed about the promulgation?... When did the retired justices signed the decision?” Villamin and Jalgaldo’s motion read.

They noted that former chief justice Lucas Bersamin, who penned the ruling, retired in October.