Catanduanes governor suspended for 6 months

MANILA, Philippines — In compliance with the order of the Office of the Ombudsman, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) served the suspension order of Catanduanes Gov. Joseph Cua on Friday.

Vice Gov. Sherley Abundo was named acting governor.

Cua’s suspension for six months stemmed from an administrative complaint filed by a certain Rey Mendez for allegedly allowing a construction firm owned by Mayor Eulogio Rodriguez of Bato town to use a lot owned by the provincial government free of charge even without authorization from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

“Our campaign against corruption is unrelenting... we are working closely with the Office of the Ombudsman in its anti-corruption efforts,” Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said.

The ombudsman said the testimony and documents that Mendez presented are ”indicative of (Cua’s) strong evidence of guilt.”

“Cua’s continued stay in office pending the final disposition of this complaint may prejudice the case filed against him, more particularly witnesses and other documentary evidence that are still under his control,” the ombudsman resolution read.