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[av_heading heading=’SIPALAY MAYOR SUSPENDED Sandigan orders 90 days without Montilla ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” 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=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO and RANIE AZUE
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MANILA – The Sandiganbayan slapped a 90-day preventive suspension on Sipalay City, Negros Occidental mayor Oscar Montilla Jr. for delaying the implementation of an Office of the Ombudsman suspension order on five city employees.
Montilla’s suspension would take effect while his case’s litigation is ongoing.
Sandiganbayan indicted Montilla for violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act (RA) 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Section 3(e) of RA 3019 prohibits any official or employee from causing any “undue injury to any party, including the government, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.”
Montilla was charged for not implementing the suspension of city employees Evangeline Seneres, Eva Sabusap, Fernando Balhin, Noel Villanueva, and Renato Manilla.
In its three-page resolution, Sandiganbayan directed Montilla to “cease and desist” from performing his duties and functions as mayor.
Montilla is also barred from enjoying the “salaries, benefits, and privileges of his present public position or any other present public position he holds,” the resolution stated.
The Ombudsman has also indicted Montilla in January 2017 for repeatedly delaying the implementation of its suspension order against the five city employees “without legal basis.”
“Montilla gave unwarranted benefit and advantage by delaying for years, without legal basis, the implementation of the said suspension despite directives from the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas, to the detriment of public service,” it stated.
The Sandiganbayan directed the secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government to enforce and implement the preventive suspension order on Montilla.
Panay News was still trying to reach Montilla for comment.
Montilla is now in his fourth term as Sipalay City mayor./PN
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