Sandiganbayan suspends Iligan City mayor for 90 days

The Sandiganbayan has ordered the 90-day suspension of Iligan City Mayor Celso Regencia for allegedly performing his duties while in detention for a separate criminal offense.

In a 10-page minute resolution dated February 14, the Seventh Division said it is mandated to temporarily suspend Regencia under Section 13 of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act since the accused is an incumbent public official accused of usurpation of authority.

"Accused Celso G. Regencia is hereby suspended from his position as Mayor of Iligan City, and from any other public office which he may now or hereafter be holding for a period of 90 days from receipt of this resolution, unless a motion for reconsideration is seasonable filed," the Sandiganbayan said.

Regencia had argued that the preventively suspending him is premature. He also cited a resolution of the Court of Appeals which nullified the case filed by the Office of the Ombudsman through a temporary restraining order (TRO) and preliminary injunction.

However, the Sandiganbayan said it is mandated to suspend any incumbent public official who has a pending case in court for alleged "offense involving fraud upon government or public funds or property whether as a simple or as complex offense and in whatever stage of execution and mode of participation."

"It is well-settled that once a proper determination of the validity of the information has been made, it becomes the ministerial duty of the court to forthwith issue the order of preventive suspension,” it said.

The Sandiganbayan further said Regencia "tested the patience" of the anti-graft court when he repeatedly based his motions on the "evidently false claim" of citing the CA resolution.

The Sandiganbayan said the CA ruling only pertained on Regencia's administrative case for grave misconduct and not for usurpation of authority.

The court ordered the Department of the Interior and Local Government to implement the suspension order. —ALG, GMA News