By SHIELA MAE BUTLIG
Correspondent
MAYOR Oscar Moreno’s accuser Puntod barangay chairman Marvin Beja yesterday warned Vice Mayor Joaquin Uy that he could be charged with dereliction of duty unless he assumes the post of acting mayor in view of a suspension order against the local chief executive.
Beja made the warning as the 60-day temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the Court of Appeals (CA) against the implementation of the Office of the Ombudsman’s suspension order lapsed yesterday.
It was Beja that sued Moreno, city accountant Beda Joy Elot and city budget officer Percy Salazar for graft before the Office of the Ombudsman for leasing a house in Macasandig to train boxers under city hall’s sports program without the green light of the city council. Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales ordered the officials suspended for 90 days but the CA issued a TRO in Aug. 4.
Beja called on Moreno to comply with the ombudsman’s order even as he called on the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to immediately serve the 90-day suspension order.
“Kinahanglan i-implement nila unsay angayan pinasubay sa balaod,” Beja said.
He said serious legal questions would confront Moreno unless he stepped aside and allowed Vice Mayor Uy to serve as acting mayor.
Beja said, “What Moreno is doing is illegal because he has continued to exercise mayoral powers when he has been ordered suspended by the ombudsman.”
Beja also called on the DILG regional office to perform its duty.
“Automatic unta dapat mo-assume ang vice mayor. Aware naman siguro ang DILG ana,” he said.
But DILG regional director Arnel Agabe told the Gold Star Daily on Monday that they have yet to receive word from the CA or their superiors pertaining to the TRO expiration.
“Kikang (Uy) could be charged with abandonment of duty kay wala siyamo-assume. Supposedly automatic na,” Beja said.
But when he was asked if he would sue Uy, Beja said he has no plans yet.
Moreno has strongly denied any wrongdoing. He has assailed the ombudsman’s decision, questioned the suspension order and has sought an injunction from the appellate court.
Disclaimer
Mindanao Gold Star Daily holds the copyrights of all articles and photos in perpetuity. Any unauthorized reproduction in any platform, electronic and hardcopy, shall be liable for copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Rights Law of the Philippines.
