DILG SEC. REMULLA INUTUSAN SI ARCINUE NA ACTING SUAL MAYOR

 

MATAPOS SUSPENDIHIN NG OMBUDSMAN SI MAYOR CALUGAY 

Ni Mortz C. Ortigoza, MPA

 

SUAL, Pangasinan – Inutusan ng Kalihim ng Department of Interior & Local Government si Sual Vice Mayor John Christopher A. Arcinue na pansamantalang humalili kaagad sa sinuspendi ng Ombudsman na si Mayor Liseldo Calugay.

Sual Vice Mayor John Christopher “JC” Arcinue and the burgeoning town’s mayoralty candidate Arthur “Junjun” Celeste, Jr. show their Certificate of Candidacy (CoC) for the May 12, 2025 election (left photo). As seen from top photo and clockwise: Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito Victor C. Remulla; Sual, Pangasinan Mayor Liseldo “Dong” Calugay and beleaguered “Pogo Queen” then Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.

“You are hereby directed to ensure compliance with Section 48 of the Local Government Code on your automatic assumption as Acting Mayor of the (sic) Sual, Pangasinan upon receipt hereof following the implementation of the three-month suspension of Mayor Liseldo Calugay in OMB C-A-FEB 25-0028. You are therefore enjoined to discharge the power and perform the duties and function of Mayor until the termination of the vacancy in accordance with applicable law, rule, and regulation,” utos ni DILG Secretary Juanito Victor C. Remulla sa batang Arcinue na uupo sa posisyon ni Calugay na ni suspendi kamakailan ng Ombudsman.

Inutusan din ni Remulla si first ranked Councilor Maximo Domenden Millan dito na umupong Vice Mayor habang si Arcinue ang alkalde ng bayan na ito.

Si Calugay at ang kanyang Executive Assistant –III Cheryl O. Medina ay sinampahan ng administrabong kaso ni Michael G. Abata sa Ombudsman.

Ani Ombudsman Samuel R. Martires sa desisyon niya noong Abril 14, 2025 pero inilabas lang noong Mayo 5, 2025:

“Wherefore, this Office finds respondents Liseldo D. Q Calugay and Cheryl O. Medina guilty of Simple Misconduct and meted the penalty of suspension for three (3) months without pay pursuant to Rule 10 Section 50 (D) of the 2017 Revised Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service. So Ordered…”.

Nag-ugat ang reklamo ni Abata noong inendorso ni Calugay ang Application for Approval noong Disyembre 5, 2022 sa Sangguniang Bayan para sa Provisional Fishery Privilege ng 15 units ng fish cages ng Dee Aqua Farm ni Medina.

“The privilege was granted despite incompleteness of Medina’s application. Notably, Dee Aqua Farm has no: (1) Environment Compliance Certificate (ECC); Certification of Suitability from BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources); and (3) Fish Cage Registration with the Municipal Agriculture Office,” ani Ombudsman.

Sa press conference na pinatawag ni Calugay noong Mayo 5 sa kanyang tanggapan dito, sinabi ng abugado niya na hindi pweding masuspendi ang alkalde 45 days bago ang umpisa ng eleksyon at habang nasa eleksyon period kung saan bago suspendihin ang isang elective opisyal sa bayan, lungsod, o lalawigan ito ay nangangailangan ng pag-apruba ng Commission on Election (Comelec). Aniya hindi kasali sa Anti-Graft & Corrupt Practices Act na mga kaso para eksempsyon sa suspension ban ng batas ang kaso ni mayor dahil ito ay Simple Misconduct lamang.

Pero sa opinion ng ibang abugado ang Simple Misconduct ay kasali sa Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019).

“Causing any undue injury to any party, including the Government, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence. This provision shall apply to officers and employees of offices or government corporations charged with the grant of licenses or permits or other concessions,” ng Anti -Graft Law sa kanyang Letter “e” ng Section 3.