Tining returns to PB after 3-month suspension

CEBU, Philippines - Provincial Board (PB) Member Celestino “Tining” Martinez III returned to attend yesterday’s session three months after serving his suspension for an administrative case lodged against him in 2002.

The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division suspended Martinez, who sits as representative of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) in the PB, over the alleged misuse of P11 million of former congresswoman Clavel Asas Martinez’s Priority Development Assistance Fund.

Clavel is Tining’s mother.

The amount was supposedly allotted for the Girl Scout of the Philippines (GSP) as a financial assistance.

The Department of Interior and Local Government-Cebu implemented the order against Martinez in February 2017. The suspension order expired last Sunday.

“The suspension of the said accused shall automatically be lifted upon the expiration of the ninety-day period from the implementation of this Resolution," read the Sandiganbayan resolution.

Tining submitted yesterday a notice of resumption to office to Pulchra Marie Acevedo, who serves as the secretary to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

“This is to formally notify your good office that today, Monday, May 8, 2017, I will reassume the current positions as Provincial Liga President and PB ex-officio member,” read the one-page letter.

Tining also furnished a copy of the letter to the offices of Governor Hilario Davide III, Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, and Department of Interior and Local Government-7 Regional Director Rene Burdeos.

Tining said it’s good to be back to the daily grind.

But he said there are a few backlogs that need to be addressed and fast-tracked, including assemblies and capability programs for the barangay officials, treasurers, and secretary.

He said there is a need to conduct another set of seminars and trainings for the barangay officials and employees on accounting matters and auditing reports, and on keeping documentations.

“I have a lot of catching up to do. But when I served the suspension, I was still reporting to the league and then asking for some updates.  But definitely we have to work faster to catch up with some of our projects and programs nga wa (na)-implement for the couple of months,” Tining said.

He is the PB chairman of the committees on budget and appropriation, human rights and labor, barangay affairs and rural development, and provincial/municipal properties.

With Tining's absence, the vice chairmen of these committees automatically sat as chairpersons.

In August last year, Tining was ordered dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman over the P6-million Farm Inputs and Farm Implements Program scam in 2004.

But he was later cleared of the administrative charges, resulting to his return to office in December last year. (FREEMAN)