Barely 2 months after returning to work: Tining suspended

CEBU, Philippines - Barely two months after he was reinstated, Cebu Provincial Board Member Celestino "Tining" Martinez III is again suspended starting yesterday, this time over the alleged misuse of P11-million of her mother's Priority Development Assistance Fund.

In August last year, Tining was ordered dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman over the controversial P6-million Farm Inputs and Farm Implements Program scam in 2004 but he was later cleared of the administrative charges, resulting to his return to office in December last year.

Aside from Tining, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza and Bogo City Councilor Cresencio Verdida were also suspended due to the alleged misuse of the P11-million public funds that was supposedly allotted for the Girl Scout of the Philippines (GSP) as financial assistance.

Radaza already began serving the suspension last month ahead of Tining and Verdida.

Tining no longer attended yesterday's regular session of the PB, where he sits as ex-officio member for being the president of the Liga ng mga Barangay of the Province of Cebu.

Vice Governor Agnes Magpale showed to Capitol reporters a copy of the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division resolution and the Department of Interior and Local Government memorandum directing Tining and Verdida to vacate their office.

"The suspension of the said accused shall automatically be lifted upon the expiration of the ninety-day period from the implementation of this Resolution," read the Sandiganbayan resolution.

Sought for comment over his suspension, Tining said he would not contest the decision of the Sandiganbayan.

"I don't feel the need to contest it and will obey the court. It's a preventive suspension and not a penalty, a standard procedure," he told The FREEMAN in a text message.

"Anyways, I will just find useful things to do and perhaps also go and visit the barangays and officials," he added.

His suspension, however, is expected to create vacuum again in the PB as he sits there as an ex-officio member.

Asked who would take his place at the PB, Tining said the situation is "only temporary."

"The Liga can continue to function as long as the Board of Directors (members) are present and the other officers," he added.

Tining as the PB's chairman of the committees on budget and appropriation, human rights and labor, barangay affairs and rural development, and provincial/municipal properties. With Tining's absence, the vice chairmen of these committees will automatically sit as chairpersons.

Magpale also said they could still muster a quorum without him. She assured that Tining's absence would not hinder them in doing their jobs.

"It was very gentlemanly of the Board Member to say nga he will face it and start serving by Monday (yesterday)," she said, adding that Tining's "left and right suspensions" bothered local officials.

Earlier this month, the Sandiganbayan also placed Tining's sister, Bogo City Vice Mayor Maria Cielo Martinez, under a 90-day preventive suspension pending her trial over the same case.

The Office of the Ombudsman sued the Martinezes for alleged violation of Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code (malversation of public funds) and Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) together with their mother, former congresswoman Clavel Asas Martinez.

The officials allegedly kept around P10 million in public funds that was supposedly allotted for the GSP in Clavel's personal account in 2002.

The case stemmed from a letter received by the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas from a "concerned and troubled official of GSP-Cebu Council," who alleged that Clavel, in connivance with the officials of the then municipality of Bogo led by Tining as mayor and officers of GSP-Cebu Council, took a total amount of P11.5 million from the PDAF for fiscal year 2004 allotted for Clavel's district and "misappropriated" such sum for her own personal benefit.

Clavel was president of the GSP-Cebu Council, Radaza was the council treasurer, and Maria Cielo was the GSP-Cebu treasurer, at that time.

Also impleaded in the case were municipal treasurer Rhett Minguez, municipal accountant Verdida, bookkeeper Rhodariza Kilantang and GSP Cebu Council cashier Julieta Quino.

During its investigation, the anti-graft office found out that the P11.5 million from Clavel's PDAF went to the GSP account but was later withdrawn by Maria Cielo through a manager's check.

The amount was then put into Clavel's personal account. —/RHM (FREEMAN)