Sandiganbayan orders House to suspend Iligan congressman for 90 days

The Sandiganbayan has ordered the 90-day preventive suspension of reelected Iligan City Representative Frederick Siao while his graft case over an alleged anomalous lease of land for a public transport terminal is ongoing.

In a resolution dated May 21, the court's Third Division barred Siao from performing his duties as a member of the House of Representatives and other public positions he currently holds.

The office of House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was instructed to implement the suspension order.

Siao had argued that placing him under preventive suspension would not serve its purpose since the prosecution already rested its case, therefore he can no longer affect any witness or evidence.

Siao said the prosecution also failed to establish that he will commit any act of malfeasance if he stays in office.

However, the Sandiganbayan said Section 13 of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act mandates the preventive suspension of an incumbent government official facing criminal prosecution.

The Sandiganbayan said a suspension order must be issued as soon as the court finds the charges sufficient in form and substance.

"Taking into consideration the public policy involved in preventively suspending a public officer charged under a valid information, the protection of public interest will definitely have to prevail over the private interest of the accused," the resolution penned by Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang read.

It said the salaries and benefits of Siao may be reinstated if he would acquitted from the case.

In 2013, then-Councilor Siao and the rest of the city council allegedly passed a resolution authorizing then-Mayor Lawrence Cruz to sign an agreement with Salvatori Development Corporation (SDC) for the lease of 20,000 square meters of land in Barangay Tubod for the operation of the Iligan Bus and Jeepney Terminal.

The prosecution said the agreement failed to undergo a public bidding due to the accused's preference to SDC. —NB, GMA News