Palace tells suspended Abra officials to man up

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang yesterday called on the suspended local executives of Abra to “man up” as it maintained that their suspension was in line with existing rules.

Abra Vice Gov. Joy Valera-Bernos was suspended for 18 months starting August for allegedly placing a hospital on lockdown without sufficient basis four years ago.

Malacañang also placed Bernos’ father, Abra Gov. Dominic Valera, under preventive suspension for 60 days this month for violating the Local Government Code of 1991.

The suspended officials have reportedly appealed to President Marcos to fix the politics in the province.

Sought for comment, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who hails from Abra, said he was not aware of the appeal to the President.

“If there is one, the Valeras should accept that there is a process ongoing and they have been suspended in accordance with pre-existing (not whimsical) rules,” Bersamin said in a statement.

“It is time for the Valeras to man up. They have been unchecked for a long time because of their money and illegal use of influence,” he added.

Bersamin found Bernos guilty of oppression and abuse of authority, conduct unbecoming of a public official and disobedience to national government policies.

He noted that the vice governor earlier resorted to judicial remedy, “but her resort failed because of her own blunder.”