Ex-Compostela Valley mayor fined for simple misconduct

MANILA, Philippines – A former municipal mayor in Compostela Valley has been fined by the Office of the Ombudsman for committing an act of simple misconduct.

In a decision released recently, the ombudsman ordered former mayor Juan Cipriano Celso Sarenas of Pantukan town to pay the government the amount equivalent to two months of his salary.

The penalty stemmed from Sarenas’ failure to divest himself of his shareholdings in a mining company within 60 days of his assumption of the post.

The ombudsman said as town mayor, Sarenas’ position and interest in the company affected the performance of his official duties.