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[av_heading heading=’On third dismissal order OMBUDSMAN ‘GETS PERSONAL’ – DEGAMO’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”][/av_heading]
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Sunday, December 10, 2017
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DUMAGUETE City – Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo said the Ombudsman is “getting personal” with him in its latest decision to dismiss him from the service.
For the third time, the Ombudsman issued a dismissal order against Degamo.
The first stemmed from the complaint that June Vincent Gaudan filed in relation to the advance payment of the province’s calamity fund. The second came in light of a complaint filed by Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) member Jessica Villanueva regarding the progress billing of the calamity fund after typhoon “Sendong.”
The two previous dismissal orders against Degamo were reversed by the Court of Appeals.
The latest was issued this week after Degamo was found guilty of grave misconduct over the anomalous disbursement of the P10-million intelligence fund in 2013.
It stemmed from the complaint that former SP member Millimoore Saycon lodged.
“Gipersonal nagyud ko niinisa Ombudsman. (The Ombudsman is truly getting personal with me),” Degamo said.
The governor filed a complaint against Ombudsman officials before the Supreme Court for grave abuse of authority and selective justice.
According to Degamo, the high court already required the respondents to file their counter-affidavits.
Degamo said despite his motion to stop the hearing of his P10-million intelligence fund case, the Ombudsman still proceeded.
Degamo is a supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte’s call for the impeachment probe on Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.
Atty. Richard Enojo, Degamo’s legal counsel, said in 2013, the provincial peace and order council had proposed the P10-million intelligence fund for plans and programs involving crime prevention, anti-insurgency operations and peace and order programs.
The proposal was approved by the Provincial Development Council and was submitted to the SP for approval.
However, the SP scrapped the proposal, prompting Degamo to tender his veto.
Under the Local Government Code, the SP has to override the veto through a two-thirds vote of all members.
It was not acted upon, though, according to Enojo.
Aside from that, Enojo added that the audit observation that the Commission on Audit issued showed that there was good faith using the intelligence fund.
A notice of disallowance was issued, however, requiring Degamo to reimburse the P10-million fund.
Enojo said Degamo took from his personal money the P10-million refund and hand carried it to the Ombudsman in Cebu City.
By that time, the issue had been settled, he added.
Enojo stressed that Degamo used his money for public service programs, which were fully liquidated and settled. (PNA/PN)
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