Ombudsman affirms CDO mayor’s dismissal

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman has affirmed the dismissal of Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno over an administrative case.

In a ruling released on Tuesday, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales denied Moreno’s motion for reconsideration, noting that he submitted only a photocopy of his counter-affidavit.

William Guialani, former chairman of Barangay Taglimao filed charges of grave misconduct against Moreno and city treasurer Glenn Bañez over a tax settlement with a private company without approval from the city council.

The Court of Appeals (CA) issued a temporary restraining order stopping the ombudsman from dismissing Moreno in November after the Department of the Interior and Local Government installed Vice Mayor Caesar Ian Acenas as acting mayor.

Moreno’s counsel Dale Bryan Mordeno said they have yet to receive a copy of the latest ombudsman ruling.

Mordeno said the ruling is not final as Moreno has 15 days to make an appeal upon its receipt.

“The decision, order or judgment in any court… will not become final until the period within which to appeal it lapses or expires. That is part of due process,” Mordeno told a press conference at the mayor’s office on Tuesday.

Mordeno said the junking  of Moreno’s motion was only an “error of fact” that could be raised before the CA.

The case is procedural and does not involve graft and corruption, he added.