Radaza to heed suspension order

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Paz Radaza finds the 90-day preventive suspension against her rather "unfair" since the case she is facing before the Sandiganbayan, she said, has nothing to do with her functions as mayor.

“Ang akong sabot sa preventive suspension is so that I cannot influence, I cannot get hold of the evidence. But those things (did not happen) at the Lapu-Lapu City Hall. It’s so unfair," she told reporters yesterday.

She said the order is also unfair for her constituents who gave her the mandate to run the affairs of the city.

The Sandiganbayan, in an order penned last October 21, called for the suspension of Radaza and three other government officials in connection with their alleged "misuse" of the P15 million pork barrel funds of then Cebu fourth district representative Clavel Asas-Martinez.

Since Clavel is not presently active in government service, only Radaza and Provincial Board Member Celestino “Tining” Martinez III have been ordered suspended, as well as Bogo City councilors Rhett Minguez and Cresencio Verdida, who at the time the said funds were "misused" in 2002, served as the municipal treasurer and accountant of then Bogo town.  

The Ombudsman filed the charges in July last year.

The respondents were slapped with two counts of criminal charges for malversation of public funds under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code and another two for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against the four officials, as well as Clavel.

The anti-graft body affirmed that the respondents connived in misusing Clavel’s Priority Development Assistance Fund, originally intended for the Girl Scouts of the Philippines for its anti-drugs campaign.

Out of the P15 million, only P600,000 was reportedly spent for the said purpose and the bulk withdrawn by the former lawmaker from the GSP-Cebu Council treasury.

The transactions neither reportedly appeared in the Monthly Financial Report of the GSP in Cebu City nor were they pre-audited by the internal auditor.

Aside from this, the Allotment and Obligation Slips of Bogo were also not supported by programs of work and or documents showing the related activities of GSP.

The former representative was GSP-Cebu president from 2000 to 2003, while Radaza used to be GSP-Cebu City treasurer.

Board Member Martinez, who currently sits as ex-officio member of the Provincial Board, was serving then as mayor of Bogo City.

Radaza admitted she was affected by the suspension order and Pelaez criticizing her administration, however, she said she will continue to work hard as mayor.

“Natural man sad gud na (nga ma-affected). Anyway, ang ako is to serve the people og maayo. When I go to City Hall, trabaho man sad ko. It’s entirely different. When I work, I really work," she said.

As of now, Radaza is still waiting for her legal counsel’s call to inform her that a copy of the order has been received.

Once she receives it, she will respect the court's decision, she said.

She also said she would not dwell "in anxiety for being out of the office for three months." — (FREEMAN)