Ombudsman Ruling Against Bacolod City Mayor, 6 Others Reversed By Court Of Appeals
The 18th Division of Court of Appeals in Cebu City has reversed the ruling of the Ombudsman against Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia and six others.
The administrative case of grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty regarding the procurement of furniture and fixture amounting P50 million filed by the Office of the Ombudsman against the former Bacolod City mayor and six city hall employees was reversed by the Court of Appeals.
On Tuesday (September 12, 2017), the Bacolod City mayor said that the court found no over price, conspiracy, bad faith, and under-delivery on the goods. He also said that he was absolved on the case with or without the Aguinaldo Doctrine.
A public official may be absolved from any administrative case if the latter will be reelected without prejudice as stipulated in the Aguinaldo Doctrine.
The ruling from the Court of Appeals was signed by Associate Justices Germano Francisco Legaspi, Marilyn Lagura-Yap, and Executive Justice Gabriel Ingles before it was issued last September 06, 2017.
Previously, criminal charges were filed by the Ombudsman against the following:
- Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia
- BAC Secretariat head Melvin Recabar
- Former City Treasurer Annabelle Badajos.
- Former Bids and Awards chairman Goldwyn Nifras
- Former Budget Officer Luzviminda Treyes
- Late City Legal Officer Allan Zamora
- BAC member Nelson Sedillo Sr
Former members of the Technical Working Group
- Gliceria Caduhada
- Eduardo Ravena
- Jaries Encabo
- Belly Aguillon
- Aladino Agbones
The Court of Appeals has also cleared Nifras, Treyes, Sedillo, Aguillon, Agbones and Encabo from criminal charges of gross neglect of duty and grave misconduct. CA has also ordered for their dismissal.
Ravena and Recabar were also found guilty of simple misconduct revising their dismissal to three-month suspension without pay. The official could return to their post and entitled to back pays and other benefits after their suspension.
What can you say about this? Just feel free to leave your comments and reactions for this article.
You can also read Marlou Arizala a.k.a Xander Ford About To Reveal His New Face After Surgical Operation
