BATANGAS, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of the mayor of Malvar town in Batangas due to an alleged anomalous procurement of a lot owned by her children.
In a decision dated April 18, 2017 rendered by the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon and approved by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales on Sept. 8, 2017, Mayor Cristeta Reyes was found guilty of grave misconduct.
She was meted with the penalty of dismissal with accessory penalties of cancelation of eligibility, bar from taking civil service examination, forfeiture of retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification for re-employment in government service.
Also found guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service and meted with the penalty of suspension for nine months are Malvar Municipal Budget Officer Jeanette C. Fruelda and Municipal Treasurer Yolanda F. Cabiscuelas.
The case against Reyes stemmed from her approval to purchase a lot allegedly owned by her children for the construction of Santiago National High School in her municipality, an act prohibited under government procurement law.
A copy of the Ombudsman resolution was served by DILG Batangas Provincial Director Adelma Mauleon on Wednesday.
According to Brian Ballon, Local Government Operations Officer of DILG 4A, the decision of the ombudsman is final and executory. However, the respondent can still file a motion for reconsideration or question the decision through the Court of Appeals.
“We are just waiting for the official report from the Provincial Director but once confirmed that it is legally served, Vice Mayor Alberto Lat will be issued a memo for him to start acting as Mayor of Malvar,” Ballon said.
In her defense, Reyes in a text message said: "We filed our motion for reconsideration with Ombudsman kayat inaasahan kong pag aaralan nilang mabuti ang inihain ko na MR dahil wala ako talagang ginawang mali. Ang nakinabang ay ang Malvar at hindi ako o ang pamilya ko."