Unseen hand behind order, Guialani says

By NITZ ARANCON
and LITO RULONA
Correspondents

HE only sought for a preventive suspension order against Mayor Oscar Moreno and city treasurer Glenn Bañez but  got more than what he wished for.

Former Taglimao barangay chairman William Guialani yesterday said this even as he alleged that an unseen hand was behind the order of the Office of the Ombudsman to dismiss and perpetually bar Moreno from holding public office in connection with the case he filed in March.

“Dunay dako nga politiko nga nagpaloyo sa decision sa ombudsman nga nag-dismiss sa katungdanan ni Moreno,” Guialani told the Gold Star Daily in a phone interview.

Guialani said the information was disclosed to him when he went to the ombudsman’s office in Manila to check about the status of the controversial order approved by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, and to ask for an official copy.

The allegation of Guialani raises serious questions on the independence and impartiality of the Office of the Ombudsman in handling cases. Guialani’s allegation also suggests that the Office of the Ombudsman has been compromised.

Moreno’s accuser said he talked with a ranking official at the ombudsman’s office, and was allegedly told that a powerful politician pulled some strings and caused the issuance of the dismissal order against the mayor.

Guialani said he did not expect a dismissal order because all he asked for was for a preventive suspension order against Moreno and Bañez.

He called the controversial decision “too much.”

“Bisan pa kinsa imong pangotan-on sa decision sa ombudsman,  sobra ra pod kaayo kay gi-dismiss na, unya dili pa gyud tugotan sila nga   motrabho sa gobyerno bisan janitor na lang. Sobra ra gyud kaayo,” said Guialani.

He said he asked an official about it out of curiosity, and was told that a big politician was behind it.

“Wala gyud siya mamakak kay bisan ako, akong nakita nga kon walay politiko nga nagpaloyo sa ombudsman’s decision, dapat diciplinary action ra na,” he said.

Guialani claimed the official did not identify the politician.

He also said he was not keen on seeing the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) serve the order against Moreno and Bañez, adding that his intention in suing the officials was not to have them dismissed or barred from holding public office for life.

He said only those who were after of city hall control were working to have the mayor evicted from his office.

“Ang ako lamang katuyo-an nga ang katungod sa atong mga igso-ong kabus mabati sa city hall,” Guialani said.

In March, Guialani filed the complaint, and accused Moreno and Bañez of lowering Ajinomoto Philippines’ local taxes from P2.9 million to P300 thousand without authority from the city council.

Moreno appealed the case before the ombudsman on Monday.

Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Caesar Ian Acenas yesterday said the memorandum he  sent to city hall’s depository banks on Monday was intended to caution them about possible unauthorized withdrawals in view of the dismissal order against Moreno and Bañez.

He said this after the DILG regional director Nilo Castañares said the Department still recognized Moreno and Bañez as the city’s mayor and treasurer, respectively.

In a Nov. 9 memorandum, Acenas asked bank managers to refrain from allowing bank withdrawals from city hall’s accounts except for transactions pertaining to payment of salaries, wages, bonuses, and benefits of local government officials and employees.

But Castañares quickly sent a communication to the banks to inform them that Moreno and Bañez have remained recognized by the DILG.

City hall maintains accounts with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), Postal Bank, and Philippine Veterans Bank.

Acenas said his memo was just a warning, and to urge the banks to be careful.

“Minilyon kana ang funds sa siyudad, and we, in the city council, are bound to protect the city government coffers. Dili kami puwede magpasagad,” he said.

Castañares said the DILG here would serve the order the moment they received a copy and a directive even pending a resolution on Moreno’s motion for reconsideration.

“We are still awaiting order from the DILG central office for us to serve to the respondents. Amo kanang itunol didto sa hingtungdan. Bisan nakadawat na sila (Moreno) sa order, amo gihapon kini nga i-serve,” he said.

He said only another order from the DILG central office to hold back or a temporary restraining order from a court would prevent them from serving the dismissal order.

“We will always refer back to the legal department of the DILG central office. Kung mo-ingon sila nga ipatuman ang kamanduan, amo kining tumanon,” Castañares said.

Then and only then can the rule of automatic succession can be in effect, he said.