THE Mandaue City Legal Office (CLO) reinstated Renato Suson as Labogon village chief in Mandaue although he had not completed the 60-day preventive suspension for the complaint filed against him.
CLO assistant lawyer James Allan Sayson said that Section 62 (c) of the Local Government Code of 1991 states that no incumbent official must be suspended 90 days prior to a local election, which was the reason why Suson was put back to the office.
The village election is initially set on May 14.
Suson’s preventive suspension was supposed to end on February 28. The suspension order took effect last December 28.
Sayson facilitated the turnover of post for village captain from first Councilor Amado Manatad to Suson in Barangay Labogon Thursday morning, February 15.
Several village watchmen and supporters of Manatad and Suson witnessed the event. No commotion happened during the turnover.
Before his reinstatement, Suson, through his legal counsel, sent a letter to the Office of the Mayor last Friday, February 9, citing what is indicated in the Local Government Code.
“If you can recall, last December 28, there was a 60-day preventive suspension, February 28 mahuman unta. Ni-cut short ta (which was supposed to end on February 28, but we cut it short) pursuant to section 62 (c) of the Local Government Code which says during 90-day period prior to an election, which is May 14, all preventive suspensions imposed will automatically be lifted,” said Sayson.
By operation of the law, he said that it does not need the order of the mayor or the City Hall for Suson to take over as the village captain.
Suson, Village Councilors Alfredo Estrada and Benwilson Bodo Jr. were preventively suspended after their fellow officials filed a complaint before the City Council in violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act last July 10, 2017.
The complaint was filed by their co-officials in the village, including Manatad. The case was related to the alleged “ghost delivery” of construction materials intended for the rehabilitation of the village’s material recovery facility.
Estrada and Bodo were also reinstated.
When he served as the acting village captain for more than a month, Manatad said there was a regular collection of garbage, the village hall was in order, the salary of the employees who were not paid for a couple of months was released and he was able to set aside a P1-million budget for the construction of a covered court, where families can evacuate in case of calamities.
Suson said he will focus on waste management and peace and order after his reinstatement.
Manatad, who is currently serving his last term as village councilor, expressed to run as village captain in Labogon this election against Suson, who seeks re-election.
While Suson has seated as the village captain again, Sayson added the investigation on the complaint filed against him and two other village councilors will continue. (FMG/VoxPop Cebu)