Cavite mayor suspended for gambling

MANILA, Philippines — A municipal mayor in Cavite has been suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman after he was allegedly spotted gambling in a casino in Bacolod, Negros Occidental.

In a six-page order, the ombudsman suspended Rosario town Mayor Jose Voltaire Ricafrente for six months without pay pending resolution of administrative charges for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

The charges were filed by members of the ombudsman’s field investigation office.

The FIO said Ricafrente, accompanied by four people, entered the casino in March, played in a gaming table with P30,000 worth of casino chips and won P10,000.

The ombudsman said there is strong evidence showing the mayor’s guilt, which warrants the suspension. 

The Department of the Interior Local and Government (DILG) served the suspension order on Ricafrente on Wednesday afternoon.

DILG-Cavite officer-in-charge Marcial Juangco said the serving of the order was orderly and peaceful.