Ombudsman suspends Maguindanao town mayor

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the suspension for one year of the mayor of Talitay town in Maguindanao for failing to implement anti-drug measures despite an order from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

In a decision recently signed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, Montasir Sabal was found guilty of gross neglect of duty.

“As attested by municipal budget officer Charity Tampoco and municipal treasurer Norodin Samaon, the municipality never allocated a budget for the anti-illegal drugs program from 2010 to 2015…Not a single-activity geared toward the curtailment of illegal drugs in the same period took place,” the ombudsman said.

The ombudsman said Sabal’s inaction violated Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act and DILG Memorandum Circular 2015-63.

Section 51 of RA 9165 mandates local government units to ”appropriate a substantial portion of their respective annual budgets to assist in or enhance the enforcement of the law, giving priority to preventive or educational programs and the rehabilitation or treatment of drug dependents.”

Failure to comply with the law shall be a ground for an administrative case for dereliction of duty against concerned local officials and the disapproval of the local annual budget on review under the DILG memorandum, the ombudsman said.

Sabal also failed to declare in his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth in 2011 to 2015 his 14 guns, four luxury vehicles and several of his business interests. 

The ombudsman also faulted Sabal for failing to seek permission from the provincial government for his travels abroad from 2010 to 2016.