After a dismissal order was issued against Pilar Mayor Necitas Cubrado for grave misconduct, the Office of the Ombudsman has also ordered the suspension of the local chief executive for approving job order contracts without the approval of the town’s municipal council.
In a statement, the Ombudsman said that Cubrado was found guilty of simple misconduct leading to her suspension for one month and one day.
Investigation showed that Cubrado approved the contract of services of Mavina Renegado and Rosabel Quimson for the period of January 4, 2016 until June 30 2016.
READ: Ombudsman orders dismissal; Pilar mayor cries foul: ‘too harsh’
It also revealed that the mayor approved the job order contracts without the authority of the Sangguniang Bayan (SB), which is a violation of the Local Government Code.
In its decision dated September 7, 2017, the ombudsman stated that “the exercise of such power, when entering into contracts of services, is qualified by Section 22 (c) of the Local Government Code.”
“Section 444 (b)(1)(vi) moreover, provides that the authority of the mayor to represent the municipality through contracts must be with the prior authority of the sanggunian. Thus, respondent, needed prior authority from the SB to enter into the subject contracts of services with Quimson and Renegado,” it added.
In August, Cubrado was ordered dismissed by the Ombudsman for exempting several residents from paying power connection charges without the approval of the SB.
Cubrado was found guilty of grave misconduct, according to a resolution signed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.
READ: No dismissal order yet for Pilar mayor —DILG, PGBh
The ombudsman also permanently disqualified Cubrado from holding public office.
Meanwhile, Cubrado earlier claimed that the development of her case was politically motivated.
“Gikasohan ko nila ni Wilson Pajo ug mga kauban ky wa kono ko mo kuha ug SB resulotion,” said Cubrado in her Facebook comment to a news post of DYRD Bohol Ang Kasaligan on her dismissal.
Pajo ran for the Pilar mayoralty in last year’s polls but lost to Cubrado.
In the same Facebook thread, the mayor also noted that her decision to waive the electricity bills was intended to relieve indigents of financial burden.
“Makapataas pako sa ahong agtang ky tabang ni sa mga pobre intawon pag taod ug kuryente,” she added. (RT)