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Unlike Binay in Makati, Rizal mayor still at post despite month-old suspension —councilor
By TRISHA MACAS, GMA News
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(Updated 7:54 p.m.) The Department of the Interior and Local Government has yet to serve a suspension order on the mayor of Pililla, Rizal that the Sandiganbayan issued in February, a municipal councilor
Councilor Manny Paz told GMA News Online that the 90-day suspension order was issued on February 11 and should have been implemented within five days of receipt.
Councilor Manny Paz told GMA News Online that the 90-day suspension order was issued on February 11 and should have been implemented within five days of receipt.
Despite this, Mayor Leandro Masikip is still in office. He even led the flag ceremony at the city hall last Monday and is busy attending graduation ceremonies in the municipality, the councilor said.
"'Pag guest speaker siya sa mga graduation, in-announce niya na meron siyang suspension order," the Pililla councilor said.
This, the councilor, who ran under the administration Liberal Party in the last elections, is in stark contrast to another suspension order that the Sandiganbayan issued in March.
This, the councilor, who ran under the administration Liberal Party in the last elections, is in stark contrast to another suspension order that the Sandiganbayan issued in March.
"'Yung kay [Makati] Mayor Binay nga, ilang days lang 'yun, serve kaagad [ang suspension order]," he said.
GMA News Online called the Masikip's office but was told the mayor was busy with speaking engagements in graduation exercises.
Calls were also made to get reactions from Interior Undersecretary Austere Panadero and Vice Mayor Richard Sia. The calls have yet to be returned as of posting time.
The Ombudsman's suspension order against Binay, who faces graft raps over alleged overpricing in the Makati City Hall Building II, was issued on Mar. 11 and served Mar. 16.
Mayor Binay has refused to honor the order, saying a temporary restraining order that the Court of Appeals issued on Mar. 16 has frozen the suspension order.
The DILG, the Office of the Ombudsman, and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima say the TRO came too late and that there was nothing to restrain since the order had already been served.
GMA News Online called the Masikip's office but was told the mayor was busy with speaking engagements in graduation exercises.
Calls were also made to get reactions from Interior Undersecretary Austere Panadero and Vice Mayor Richard Sia. The calls have yet to be returned as of posting time.
The Ombudsman's suspension order against Binay, who faces graft raps over alleged overpricing in the Makati City Hall Building II, was issued on Mar. 11 and served Mar. 16.
Mayor Binay has refused to honor the order, saying a temporary restraining order that the Court of Appeals issued on Mar. 16 has frozen the suspension order.
The DILG, the Office of the Ombudsman, and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima say the TRO came too late and that there was nothing to restrain since the order had already been served.
GMA News Online has sought the DILG for comment, but it has yet to respond as of posting time.
Masikip, a member of the Nacionalista Party and on his final term as mayor, was suspended for 90 days after he was accused of committing fraud in 2005.
According to the copy of the Sandiganbayan's suspension order, the DILG has 90 days to enforce the order, "at which time such suspension shall be deemed automatically lifted and set aside."
According to the copy of the Sandiganbayan's suspension order, the DILG has 90 days to enforce the order, "at which time such suspension shall be deemed automatically lifted and set aside."
Masikip has been accused of taking advantage of his position and conspiring with then Vice Mayor Tomas Aguirre and Sangguniang Bayan Secretary Alejandro Amores, to falsify a public document saying they appropriated P4,087,400 under the General Fund Supplemental Budget No. 4.
They allegedly made it appear that the members of the Sanggunian Bayan passed and enacted an appropriation ordinance that the council did not.
They allegedly made it appear that the members of the Sanggunian Bayan passed and enacted an appropriation ordinance that the council did not.
Once the suspension order is served, Vice Mayor Richard Sia will be acting mayor while Councilor Benjie Pantaleon will be interim vice mayor. — JDS/NB, GMA News
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