HIGH SPIRITS. A smiling Mayor Oscar Moreno, in high spirits, gamely poses with young boxers receiving training under city hall’s sports development program after securing a temporary restraining order from the Court of Appeals. The court order stopped for 60 days the implementation of a suspension order against Moreno in connection with the use of funds for training of boxers without the go-ahead of the city council (PHOTO BY NITZ ARANCON)
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By LITO RULONA
Correspondent

PUNTOD barangay chairman Marvin Beja yesterday expressed dismay over the decision of the Court of Appeals (CA) to issue a 60-day Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against the implementation of the three-month suspension order by the ombudsman against Mayor Oscar Moreno, city accountant Beda Joy Elot and city budget officer Percy Salazar.

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Beja, the officials’ accuser, also frowned over the Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) failure to immediately serve the suspension order against Moreno and his subordinates.

“Tungod sa maong kalangan naka-kuha na hinoun sila si Moreno sa ilang TRO,” Beja said.

The city hall officials were ordered suspended in connection with a graft complaint filed by Beja who accused the officials of leasing a property for P35 thousand a month from August to December in 2013 for the training of boxers without the approval of the city council. The officials assailed the ombudsman’s ruling and appealed the case.

Beja said,“Dili nato ma-contest kay holdover man. Second motion ang ilang gihimo para mogawas ang TRO. Sixty days ra man usab kana og wala kita’y mahimo.”

He said the DILG should have served the suspension order within 10 days after it received the order.

“Maka-guol kay mapatuman na unta ang balaod apan wala man gihapon,” Beja said.

In an earlier interview, the regional office of the DILG earlier said it has yet to receive a copy of the ombudsman’s ruling against Moreno.

On Thursday afternoon, CA Associate Justices Edgardo Camello, Oscar Badelles and Ronaldo Martin issued the TRO as city hall sounded alarm bells over alleged information leaked to it that the interior department was preparing to serve the suspension order.

The CA order brought relief to the officials, and their supporters who started gathering at city hall in the afternoon. A copy of the order from the CA reached city hall past 5 pm on Thursday.

There was no attempt by the DILG  to serve the three-month suspension order.

Beja said he would meet with his lawyer to map out their next legal move.

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