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By Nora Soriño
Iligan City Bureau Chief

Iligan City — City Administrator Atty. Dexter Ray Sumaoy said Rep. Frederick Siao is still serving as the city’s congressman despite the Ombudsman’s disqualification order for the reason that Congress is not “inclined to do so.”

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The Department of Interior and Local Government is under the executive brance of government, Sumaoy explained, but Siao belongs to another branch of government which is the legislative branch.

“Unless Congress orders him (Siao) the he cannot be taken out of as representative of this city,” Sumaoy said.

But Siao can no longer run as mayor of the city, the lawyer said.

As of this time, Siao will be up against the Commission on Elections and the Comelec knows about his disqualifications. The Comelec, to note is an independent body. The Ombudsman, to note  too, is under the judiciary branch.

To recall, Siao was ordered a life-time disqualification from public office, along with former mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz and 10 others. The case was filed by Sumaoy. This was in connection with a lot being used as terminal for southbound vehicles which did not pass through a public bidding and which was owned by the family of Cruz.

Cruz and the other respondents though are not presently holding elective posts as they lost in the last elections, except for Siao who ran as congressman of this city and won.

It was learned that Siao and the others filed appeals to the Court of Appeals but up to this time,  was still shelved. So they went to the Supreme Court and the SC has not come up with any decision on it yet.

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