Gica suspension served on his birthday

CEBU, Philippines — Dumanjug Mayor Efren Guntrano 'Gungun' Gica got a surprise on his birthday.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Cebu province served the Sandiganbayan-ruled suspension order against Gica on May 2, the day he turned 38.

Gica personally received the suspension order at his home, said DILG Cebu Provincial Director Jerome Gonzales yesterday.

The Sandiganbayan ordered the 90-day preventive suspension of Gica in connection with his pending criminal cases for allegedly padding up the amount of meal expenses for a barangay assembly event in 2014 when he was the vice-mayor.

"The Court hereby orders the suspension pendente lite (pending the litigation) of accused Efren Guntrano Zozobrado Gica as Municipal Mayor of Dumanjug, Cebu for a period of 90 days,” read the order.

“The Court further orders him to cease and desist from performing and exercising the functions and duties as well as receiving and enjoying the salaries, benefits and privileges of his current public position or any other public office or position he may now or hereafter be holding within such period of preventive suspension,” it added.

The Sandiganbayan's Fourth Division, in an April 3 resolution, ruled that Gica's suspension is mandatory to conform to a certain provision of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Gonzales clarified that the 90-day suspension was not a “penalty” of the case but was rather part of the procedure; it was imposed to prevent Gica from interfering or influencing the ongoing investigation of the graft case.

By rule of succession, Gonzales said, Vice Mayor Rainero Asentista will replace Gica as an acting mayor.

He said Asentista will sit as acting mayor until the assumption of the incoming officials on June 30.

The first-ranking councilor, Cesar Baricuatro, who is the sole opponent of Gica in the mayoralty race in the May 13 elections, will serve as the acting vice mayor.

But Gonzales said Baricuatro still needs to be designated formally to the position by the president through the DILG secretary.

If reelected, Gonzales said, Gica needs to write a letter to the Sandiganbayan to clarify whether or not he needs to continue serving the remaining days of his suspension.

Born on May 2, 1981, Gica served as municipal councilor from 2007 to 2010. He then assumed as Dumanjug mayor in 2016. — KBQ (FREEMAN)