Oriental Negros Gov. George Arnaiz yesterday confirmed that he had been informed by a Department of Interior and Local Government official Saturday that Secretary Ronaldo Puno has suspended Mayor Joniper Villegas of Vallahermoso town. ecretary Ronaldo Puno has suspended Mayor Joniper Villegas of Vallahermoso town.

"I was informed that the suspension order was delivered to my office on Saturday but since the Capitol was closed, I told the DILG to deliver it instead on Monday," Arnaiz said. Provincial legal officer Erwin Vergara said Vallahermoso Vice Mayor Buenaventura Olladas will assume the post of mayor today. Vergara also said he had received reports that Villegas was refusing to step down and that a barricade had been set up at the town hall, but the matter has yet to be verified.

The suspension was based on the Ombudsman's reportedly finding Villegas guilty of charges of misconduct for his illegal dismissal of municipal employees, reports from Manila said yesterday.

The act carries a penalty of suspension from office for a period of six months and one day without pay. Puno has also suspended Mayor Ricardo Evangelista of Aguilar, Pangasinan, Joel Panaligan of Mamburao, Oriental Mindoro, and Cavite Gov. Irineo Maliksi.

Villegas could not be reached for comment as of press time yesterday.

The start of the election period began yesterday and along with it is the prohibition of the suspension of elective local officials.

It was not known if an order of suspension served after the election period had began would be valid.

Arnaiz said that if he were Villanueva, he would question the legality of the order and seek a court restraining order against its enforcement.

But the governor said he has not spoken to Villegas about the order yet.*CPG/RG

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