By Nora Soriño Iligan City Bureau Chief Iligan City — It’s work as usual for Rep. Frederick Siao even with pending cases against him. Verne Padilla, Siao’s chief of staff said these days, the congressman is not around in the city since he has to attend to legislative matters in the House of Representatives in Manila. He added that even with the criminal case against the congressman now with the Sandiganbayan, Siao still has to work on his being a representative of the lone district of the city. There is due process, he said and with these processes, he can explain and clear his name. To recall, Siao was slapped with perpetual disqualification along with then other officials led by then city mayor Lawrence Cruz and 11 others including Siao who was then a city councilor in connection with the rental of a lot used as southbound terminal, owner of which is the Lluch family, of which Cruz is among the heirs. The lot was rented without bidding and Cruz et al’s allegations was that it was an ‘emergency’ matter. The Ombudsman decided it was not a matter of emergency, and they should have gone through the bidding process, hence the decision. The Ombudsman has junked their Motion for Reconsideration earlier. Respondents then went to the Court of Appeals. Padilla said the Court of Appeals still has to decide on the matter and in the Sandiganbayan, “there are still processes.”