Ombudsman suspends
5 officers, spares mayor
FOR PURCHASE OF
OVERPRICED MEDICINES IN SIPALAY
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The Ombudsman has suspended five officers of the Sipalay City government for three months without pay for the purchase of overpriced medicines in 2002, which amounts to “negligence in the performance of official duties”.

The Ombudsman, however, dismissed the charges against Oscar Montilla who was mayor of Sipalay City at the time the charges were filed by virtue of the application of the Aguinaldo doctrine.

Montilla was reelected mayor of Sipalay in 2004 therefore his administrative liability if any is deemed condoned by virtue of his new mandate as granted under the Aguinaldo doctrine, the decision said.

Two regular traffic aides of Bacolod City were ordered dismissed from service with forfeiture of benefits, after being found guilty of the administrative charges filed against them.

Ordered dismissed were Traffic Aides 1 Arnel Mondejar and Germale Federico for unauthorized absences, falsification and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. Federico was also charged for habitual tardiness. Both are regular employees of the city.

City Legal Officer Allan Zamora yesterday said that after the lapse of 10 days (from the May 16 deadline), the investigating committee issued their findings and recommendations because the respondents failed to file their counter-affidavits.

Gov. Isidro Zayco yesterday called on all those who have built illegal structures, such as rest houses, within the Northern Negros Natural Park (formerly the Northern Negros Forest Reserve) to respect the law and vacate the area.

While the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental yesterday enlisted the help of government agencies tasked with the preservation of the environment, to support the drive of the Don Salvador Benedicto municipal government to clear illegal structures and settlers from the town’s forest reserve.

This was contained in a resolution authored by Board Member Mae Javellana, chairperson of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, and approved during the SP regular session.