Guardo to pay fine in lieu of serving suspension

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Councilor Jerry Guardo may be back to the City Council two months earlier than expected after the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas ruled that his suspension be converted to a fine.

With Guardo back in office, the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) of Mayor Tomas Osmeña is seen to formally get the council’s majority bloc.

“Yes… Good for us, bad for them (Team Rama). Weather-weather lang na,” Osmeña said at a press conference yesterday following the development.

Guardo was ordered suspended by the anti-graft office on March 15 for simple neglect of duty over his alleged failure to submit year-end financial reports to the Commission on Audit in connection to the reported irregular procurement of a dental chair while he was still barangay captain of Sambag 1.

The Department of Interior and Local Government served the suspension on March 20.

But on March 24, Deputy Ombudsman for Visayas Paul Elmer Clemente decided that the suspension of Guardo be converted to a fine equivalent to his three-month salary during his term as a village chief.

The office reconsidered its earlier decision considering that it previously ruled on the case when Guardo was already elected as a city councilor.

Yesterday, Guardo welcomed the decision and said he will pay the fine immediately on Monday so he can report back for work.

He thanked a previous ally, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella of Team Rama, for helping him to draft the motion for reconsideration he filed before the Ombudsman.

Even then, Guardo reaffirmed his stand to pledge allegiance with the BOPK.

He explained that he transferred to the other party because the Team Rama camp did not allegedly help him with the case earlier.

“I asked help ato ba, I was assured nga dili ma-affect…na-surprise ko how come na affected ko. That was the time ni-act na sila, after na-receive nako ang suspension,” Guardo said.

Guardo then expressed optimism that the DILG would act on the Ombudsman’s newest order so that he could start reporting for work soon.

Once Guardo comes back, Osmeña said he expects reorganization within the City Council.

“We just have to wait until the councilors could get together. Margot (Councilor Margarita Osmeña) is still in the States. Don’t know when she'll be back,” Osmeña said.

Osmeña said he will to deputize Guardo for sports and infrastructure concerns.

With Guardo staying with BOPK, Cebu City Council’s composition is now 9-8, with nine members affiliated with the BOPK and eight with Team Rama.

Team Rama councilors include Raymond Garcia, Joel Garganera, Jocelyn Pesquera, James Anthony Cuenco, Jose Daluz III, Pastor "Jun" Alcover Jr., Eduardo Rama, and ex-officio member Phillip Zafra.

BOPK-affiliated legislators, meanwhile, are Margarita Osmeña, Alvin Arcilla, Eugenio Gabuya Jr., Sisinio Andales, Augustus Young, Mary Ann Delos Santos, Nendell Hanz Abella (as Osmeña earlier said), Guardo and Tumulak. (FREEMAN)