Void suspension order — Lanao gov

Lanao del Sur Gov. Bashier Manalao has asked the Court of Appeals (CA) to declare null and void an order of the Office of the Ombudsman suspending him for six months.

In a 20-page memorandum, Manalao asked the appellate court to stop Vice Gov. Monera Macabangon from assuming the position as acting governor.

Manalao said Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Victor Fernandez committed grave abuse of discretion when he issued the suspension order.

He argued that Fernandez has no jurisdiction over him since Lanao del Sur is a component province of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Fernandez, according to Manalao, has no authority to sign suspension orders involving high officials of the government like mayors and governors.

For her part, Macabangon said Fernandez acted within his authority in suspending Manalao, citing Republic Act 6770 or the Ombudsman Act of 1989.

The CA’s 15th division earlier had issued a status quo order preventing the Ombudsman from enforcing its preventive suspension order against Manalao. 

Macabangon insisted that she should assume the post as acting governor following Manalao’s suspension. Manalao, however, invoked the CA’s status quo order.

Manalao’s suspension stemmed from the administrative and graft complaints which Macabangon filed against Manalao, accusing the latter of nepotism and purchasing an ambulance and a police patrol car without public bidding. — Jose Rodel Clapano