By Lito Rulona
THE Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) yesterday ordered the installation of the vice mayor of Pantar, Lanao del Norte as mayor of the town after its local chief executive was dismissed from the service over the killing of another politician.
The regional office of the DILG ordered Vice Mayor Mangondaya Tago to replace Mayor Mohammad Exchan Limbona as a result of the latter’s dismissal from the service.
Limbona was also meted with cancellation of illegibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification for reemployment in the government by the Office of the Ombudsman, a decision upheld by the Supreme Court.
Tago said he merely followed what was mandated by law.
No violence was reported when the order was served by a representative of the DILG regional office sent by regional director Rene Burdeos.
Limbona was convicted in connection with the July 3, 2007 killing of former Pantar vice mayor Hadji Rashid Onos by a group that, authorities said, included Limbona, then a barangay chairman.
The ombudsman decided on the administrative aspect of the case on Sept. 30, 2009 that found Limbona and another suspect guilty of grave misconduct.
The decision was affirmed by the Court of Appeals on Sept. 27, 2010, and, subsequently, by the SC on Sept. 29, 2011.
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