ILOILO City – The Office of the Ombudsman has cleared Mayor Jerry Treñas and several other city government officials of the charges filed by a city hall employee.
It dismissed for lack of probable cause and lack of substantial evidence, respectively, the complaints of Rosita Camacho for grave coercion and corrupt practices, and for grave misconduct, oppression and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
“We welcome the Ombudsman decision as a testament to our transparent, accountable and credible good governance,” according to Treñas in a statement.
Camacho was dismissed from the service by Treñas for alleged electioneering.
“We should always stick to sincere public service in the performance of our duties and responsibilities so that we will never go wrong,” said Treñas.
Camacho was the Special Operations Officer III of the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs. During the 2019 midterm election campaign, Treñas described her as the mayordoma of his rival and estranged brother-in-law, then mayor Jose Espinosa III.
In October 2019, four months after Treñas was elected city mayor, Camacho filed the charges against Treñas. She claimed she was forced to take a leave of absence.
She also included in her complaint City Administrator Melchor Tan, Assistant City Administrator and Executive Assistant Noel Panaguiton, Assistant Department Head II Josephine Agudo, and Human Resource Management Officer Leo Elevencione. The Ombudsman also cleared them.
Meanwhile, the Ombudsman likewise dismissed the complaints against Treñas filed by city hall employee Danny Tan for violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
In Oct. 24, 2019 Camacho appeared in the government-owned People’s Television Network’s Digong 8888 Hotline program accusing Treñas of coercion and oppression.
A Special Operations Officer III at the city government’s Office of Senior Citizens Affairs, Camacho told Presidential Legal Counsel and Spokesperson Salvador Panelo that she and other city government employees were told to take a leave of absence for six months or they would be facing charges
“Sana po matulungan naman kami ng Presidente. Kung may kasalanan kami, ilaban nila ng patas,” said an emotional Camacho whom Treñas described during the midterm election campaign as a mayordoma of his rival and estranged brother-in-law, then mayor Jose Espinosa III.
“Sana po matulungan naman kami ng Presidente. Kung may kasalanan kami, ilaban nila ng patas,” said an emotional Camacho./PN
