TWO PROVINCIAL governors and other officials involved in alleged graft and corruption and criminal cases were suspended yesterday by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
The suspension orders on the two administration allies were slapped by the Sandiganbayan and Office of the Ombudsman.
In a press conference, Interior Secretary Ronaldo V. Puno ordered a 90-day suspension notice to Western Samar Governor Milagrosa Tan and a six-month suspension for Bataan Governor Enrique T. Garcia.
On Oct. 17, the Sandiganbayan’s fourth division ordered the suspension of Ms. Tan in connection with eight counts of graft filed against her and four other provincial officers.
Western Samar Vice-Governor Jesus Redaja was designated acting governor.
The charges stemmed from a complaint filed in 2004 by Fr. Noel Labendia, parish priest of the Diocese of Calbayog and founding leader of Isog Han Samar Movement, an anti-corruption group.
Mr. Labendia accused Ms. Tan and four other provincial officers of conspiring to approve questionable purchases of P16.1 million worth of "emergency supplies" for victims of typhoon Kidang, which hit parts of the province on Dec. 4-5, 2001, without public bidding.
The group said the purchases were made even before the calamity struck.
The other officials are administrative officer Rolando Montejo, provincial accountant Romeo Reales, provincial budget officer Maximo Sison and property inspection officer Numeriano Legaspi.
Mr. Garcia’s suspension was issued by the Ombudsman on Nov. 5.
He and three other provincial officials are facing charges of plunder, falsification of public documents, and malversation of public funds in connection with the sale of a private property three years ago.
Bataan Vice-Governor Serafin Roman was designated acting governor.
The provincial government allegedly seized in February 2004 P120 million worth of properties of bankrupt paper mill Sunrise Paper Products Industries, Inc., including a paper plant, machineries and two parcels of land in Doña village, Orani municipality.
On March 5, 2005, the provincial government consolidated the titles of the properties, and sold them through auction.
On April 21, 2005, Sunrise questioned the auction before the Bataan Regional Trial Court.
Although Sunrise and the Bataan government settled their claims amicably, Josechito Gonzaga, Ruel Masino and Alfredo Santos, former workers of Sunrise, filed graft charges against Mr. Garcia and three other provincial officials, namely, legal officer Aurelio Angeles, Jr., treasurer Emerlinda Talento and administrator Rodolfo de Mesa, before the Ombudsman.
In Balanga City, Mr. Garcia said the suspension order was illegal and a political harassment.
He added he is awaiting the Court of Appeals’ (CA) decision on his petition for a stay order on the suspension.
Interior and Local Government Assistant Secretary Emeterio S. Moreno, Jr. arrived at the provincial capitol to serve the suspension order but the governor refused to accept it.
Mr. Garcia said he asked DILG for extra time to wait for the CA decision.
Public services in the province have been halted since Monday as about 3,000 supporters of Mr. Garcia, including local government employees, formed a human barricade to prevent the governor’s suspension.
Mr. Garcia claimed Ombudsman Merceditas N. Gutierrez, of the Navarro clan of Samal town, has been blaming him for the defeat of her brother, Roseller, in the 2007 mayoralty elections. — Elizabeth T. Marcelo, Rey Garcia and Sarwell Q. Meniano
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