Elipe to appeal case, calls verdict ‘harsh’

By LITO RULONA
Correspondent

EX-COUNCILOR President Elipe and his sister Christine Quizon would file a motion for reconsideration with the Office of the Ombudsman that handed a guilty verdict against them for serious serious dishonesty and falsification of an official document.

Over Magnum Radio, the son-in-law of erstwhile reputed local political kingpin Vicente Emano said he was awaiting a copy of the ombudsman’s decision in the administrative case filed by acting city administrator Dionnie Gersana on Jan. 22, 2015.

The same order absolved former vice mayor Caesar Ian Acenas and city secretary Arturo de San Miguel.

The ombudsman found Elipe liable for approving and certifying entries in the the daily time record (DTR) of his sister who served as his secretary at the city council covering a period when she was out of the country.

“I still have to see the copy of the decision so that we could file a motion for reconsideration. Pero akong respituhan ang decision sa maong kaso. I don’t see anything wrong. Subra ra pud kaayo ang maong decision tungod kay wala ma-appreciate ang among earlier nga tubag sa maong kaso,” he said.

Elipe said Councilor Leon Gan would lawyer for him and his sister.

Elipe and Quizon were ordered dismissed from the government service, a penalty that carries with it the cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification from holding public office and bar from taking civil service examinations.

The ruling was approved by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales just this July 7 although the resolution was already signed by graft investigation and prosecution officer Rosemil Bañaga as early as July 24, 2015.

In it, the ombudsman ordered Mayor Oscar Moreno to implement the decision against the siblings within 10 days from receipt of the official copy of the order.

With Elipe and his sister already out of city hall, the ombudsman stated that the siblings should pay a fine equivalent to their salaries for one year. The fine may be deducted from their retirement benefits, accrued leave credits or any receivable from the local government.

Elipe said the decision was too harsh, hence, the planned motion for reconsideration. He said they would present more argument so that the decision on the case filed by Gersana would be reversed.

He said the order came as a surprised to him because there, supposedly, was an earlier order to elevate the same case to court.

“I don’t know if this is a denial of the motion for reconsideration tungod kay wala pa nako mabasa ang maong order or lahi kini nga case. This is a legal issue, and I will let Atty. Gan to reply,” he said.

Elipe said if he won a seat in Misamis Oriental’s provincial board in the May elections, he would immediately vacate his seat and accept the verdict of the Ombudsman. He is now working as acting manager of the capitolun Don Gregorio Pelaez Sports Complex.

“Mao lagi ning medyo critical ta sa admnistrasyon kay pangitaan kita og sala. Nahimo kining nga sistema diha sa city council nga mopirma lamang kita og daily time record nga 8 to 5 og tanan ‘job order’ ingon ana ang sistema sa pagpirma. Usahay gani advance og paghimo aron paspas ang paghimo sa payroll,” he said.

Gersana, in his complaint, said the siblings made it appear that Quizon reported for work on Oct. 25, 29 and 30, 2013 when travel records obtained from the Bureau of Immigration show that she was left the country on Oct. 25, 2013 and returned on Oct. 30, 2013.