Mayor slapped with misconduct

ILOILO CITY, Philippines  — Maasin Mayor Mariano Malones was charged with simple misconduct by the Iloilo's Sangguniang Panlalawigan's committee of the whole chaired by Vice Governor Raul Tupas during its regular session Tuesday.

Malones' administrative case was filed by his former Human Resource Management assistant Elsa Maternal, who sought the SP's interventions and actions last July 19, 2013 after the latter failed to reinstate her as HRMA despite the order from the Civil Service Commission.

Maternal was evicted from the said position in 2002 by the municipal mayor. The complainant then filed Malones of gross misconduct, grave abuse of authority, oppression, dishonesty, dereliction of duty and gross negligence.

However, despite the order, Malones allegedly did not take action to reinstate the respondent.

During the committee's ruling, Tupas cited that Malones was guilty of simple misconduct because of the limited period of time for him to act on the implementation of the of the resolutions of the CSC when he assumed office on June 30, 2013 and up to the time the complaint was filed on July 19, 2013.

Tupas, however, said the respondent is not guilty of all other charges such as gross misconduct, grave abuse of authority, oppression, dishonesty, dereliction of duty and gross negligence.

Tupas said the penalty for simple misconduct is suspension for one month and one day to six months for the first offense.

He added if there being no aggravating or mitigating circumstances, Section 54 (b) of the Uniform Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service provides that the medium of the penalty should be imposed which is the penalty of suspension for three months.

Tupas said the SP members will discuss and decide the suspension of Malones on the next session.  (FREEMAN)