Duterte pardons ousted Northern Samar mayor

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — President Duterte has pardoned a former municipal mayor in Northern Samar, who was ousted last year for nepotism.

Former Gamay town mayor Timoteo Capoquian was found guilty of violating Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code for appointing his sister Raquel as chief of the Gamay Water District in 2018.

The law prohibits appointments in government positions of relatives within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity of an appointing authority.

Duterte on May 23 granted Capoquian absolute pardon.

With the pardon, Capoquian’s lawyer said the former mayor could now return to politics and recover his retirement benefits.

Capoquian thanked Duterte for taking notice of his case and for allowing him to return to his normal life.

During the May 9 elections, Raquel and her running mate won as mayor and vice mayor of Gamay, respectively.

The Supreme Court in 2019 promulgated a ruling that dismissed Capoquian from service as town mayor.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) served the SC order and installed Vice Mayor Clarita Gomba as mayor.

The DILG also swore in Councilor Cyril Costuna as vice mayor.

Aside from dismissal, the SC perpetually disqualified Capoquian – who was town mayor from 2007 to 2016 – from holding public office.

The high court also forfeited Capoquian’s retirement benefits and canceled his eligibility.