BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
ILOILO City – For Maasin, Iloilo’s Mayor Mariano Malones, the legal fight against Elsa Maternal is far from over.
“Daw indi ako magpati, daw gin-railroad nila, wala gin diskusyonan maayo ang kaso,” said Malones in reaction to Tuesday’s resolution of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) adopting the recommendation of the Committee of the Whole finding him guilty of simple misconduct with penalty of three months suspension.
Vowing to file a motion for reconsideration (MR) before the SP, Malones expressed disappointment over the refusal of the SP to tackle his motion to defer consideration of the committee report and to set a formal hearing.
Otherwise, he lamented, they should have given the opportunity to non-confirming Board members like Ninfa Garin to defend him.
“I’m very positive that I could still convince the SP that I’m not guilty,” said the mayor.
He said should his MR be denied, he intended to elevate the case to the higher court.
He expressed hope that the Civil Service Commission (CSC) would issue guidelines on how to reinstate Maternal and how much would be paid to her.
Malones illegally terminated Maternal in 2002.
After Maternal had filed complaint against Malones before the CSC, it ruled in favor of the former and ordered the latter to reinstate her. But Malones failed to do so, thus, Maternal sought the help of the SP in 2013.
Asked if he would willingly step down the moment the suspension takes effect, Malones said he would./PN
