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[av_heading heading=’Suspension order vs 3 councilors lapses ‘ 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 MAE SINGUAY
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BACOLOD City – The suspension order against three members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod lapsed yesterday.
The Office of the Ombudsman issued an order dated Sept. 22 suspending councilors Em Ang, Wilson Gamboa Jr., and Sonya Verdeflor after it found that they are guilty of simple neglect of duty.
The order – which was implemented by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Nov. 29 – stemmed from the complaint that Juan Ramon Guanzon filed last year.
Guanzon lodged the complaint before the Ombudsman against the three incumbent councilors and four former councilors Jocelle Sigue, Roberto Rojas, Archie Baribar, and Alex Paglumotan.
Guanzon said they violated City Ordinance 506 series of 2009 – which regulates the fees and issuance of licenses for the construction, establishment, operation, and maintenance of cockpits and cockfighting in the city – when they approved a cockfighting request in Barangay Tangub in April 2016.
The order suspended Ang, Gamboa and Verdeflor for a month and a day.
Because of their separation from service, Sigue, Rojas, Baribar, and Paglumotan were meted a penalty equivalent to their councilor salary for a month and a day.
The suspension order lapsed yesterday at 4 p.m., according to DILG-Bacolod officer-in-charge Carmelo Orbista.
He added that Ang, Gamboa and Verdeflor can now assume office.
Verdeflor said they will report on Jan. 3. She added, “I enjoyed my one-month grand Christmas vacation. No stress.”
On Nov. 4, Verdeflor filed a petition for review before the Court of Appeals regarding the suspension order.
Last month, Gamboa said the Ombudsman “abused its power and authority” when it ordered their suspension. He also filed a motion for reconsideration at the Ombudsman.
Ang also filed a petition for review at the appellate court, according to Verdeflor./PN
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