Mandaue village chief, 2 kagawads suspended anew

CEBU, Philippines — The barangay captain of Labogon, Mandaue City and two of his councilors have been suspended for the second time in six months.

Barangay Captain Renato Suson, and Councilmen Alfredo Estrada and Benwilson Bodo were slapped with six-month, three-month, and one-month suspension, respectively, for graft charges.

The officials reportedly failed to show receipts of the construction materials — 65 bags of cement, five cubic meters of sand and gravel, and 1,000 pieces of hollow blocks — they bought for the village, violating Republic Act 3019 or Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The decision was approved by the Mandaue City Council on June 8 after the body found probable cause to suspend the officials anew.

Lawyer James Allan Sayson, the city legal officer, served yesterday the suspension order against the officials.

“The suspension is effectively immediately,” he said.

The order though was posted on the Labogon Barangay Hall’s glass window because the officials were not around when it was served. The barangay workers reportedly did not also know their whereabouts.

"Naa man gud sa Local Government Code nga the suspension order should be on an unexpired term," Sayson said.

Suson is on his second term as village chief, while Estrada and Bodo are also serving their second term as councilmen.

Suson will only serve about two weeks of the six-months suspension as his term is set to expire about two weeks from now.

New set of elected government officials will assume office on July 1.

Suson ran for reelection last May 14 but lost to Amado Manatad, the incumbent village councilman.

The incoming village chief assured that his administration will observe utmost transparency and accountability.

Once he assumes office, Manatad said he will look into addressing the barangay’s garbage problem, as well as providing quality services for his constituents.

Background

Last January, Suson, Estrada, and Bodo were placed under 60-day prevention suspension for their alleged involvement in the “ghost deliveries” of construction items intended for the barangay’s material recovery facility in 2015.

The order came from the city government and was approved en masse by the City Council on December 20, 2017.

It was signed by then acting Mandaue Mayor Carlo Fortuna. — KBQ (FREEMAN)