CamSur mayor ordered suspended for 90 days

The Office of the Ombudsman has secured the 90-day suspension of Pili, Camarines Sur Mayor Tomas Bongalonta Jr. after the Sandiganbayan found sufficient basis in his graft case over the alleged unlawful dismissal of a municipal employee.

In a press statement, the Ombudsman said the anti-graft court's Seventh Division sustained the motion of the prosecution to suspend Bongalonta while his trial for violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act is ongoing.

“Once the information is found to be sufficient in form and substance, then the Court must issue the order of suspension as a matter of course.  There are no ifs and buts about it,” the Sandiganbayan said.

“The presumption is that unless the accused is suspended, he or she may frustrate the prosecution of the case, commit further acts of malfeasance, or do both,” it added.

Bongalonta allegedly dismissed municipal employee Eileen Ceron, who was only suspended by the Ombudsman from office.

The Ombudsman said Bongalonta knew fully well that the anti-graft body only suspended Ceron but still pushed through with the dismissal.

“The accused knew fully well that the penalty of dismissal from the service has no legal basis, thereby depriving Ceron not only her office but also the salaries and monetary benefits attached thereto amounting to P955,285.06,” the case information against Bongalonta read.

Under Section 13 of RA 3019, an incumbent public official can be suspended by the Sandiganbayan if the case against him has valid information under the law or the Revised Penal Code, or for any offense involving fraud upon the government, or public funds or property is pending in court. —NB, GMA News