A
90-day preventive suspension order was meted out last Friday against eight top
officials in the town of Carmen.
The
Sandiganbayan released the suspension order last Wednesday against Mayor Pedro
Budiongan, Vice Mayor Josil Trabajo, and Sangguniang Bayan (SB) members Rufino
Adlaon, Mario Sonia, Tito Montajos, and ABC president Carlito Torrefranca including
municipal treasurer Fulgencio Pania and budget officer Taciana Espejo.
The
Sandiganbayan resolution was received by Gov. Erico Aumentado on Thursday and
immediately ordered the Provincial Attorneys Office, through provincial legal
officer Atty. Reynard Namocatcat and provincial peace and order consultant retired
Col. Sancho Bernales, to serve the order in Carmen.
The
suspension stemmed from graft charges filed against the municipal officials.
In
an interview with the Chronicle, Col. Bernales said that the eight officials were
not available to receive the suspension order at the municipal hall.
However,
Bernales and Namocatcat left a copy of the order with a staff of Budiongan.
Budiongan
and the other seven town officials were reportedly meeting with their lawyers
last Friday.
Bernales
said they would send another copy of the order tomorrow through registered mail.
Budiongan
told the Chronicle in a separate interview that they did not acknowledge receipt
of the order pending the results of a motion for reconsideration they have filed
in the Sandiganbayan last June 19.
It
may be recalled that Budiongan has just resumed office last month after serving
another 90-day suspension for separate graft charges.
The
case stemmed from a case involving a "dummy" of a certain construction
company in the city.
Meanwhile,
vice mayor Trabajo is also facing possible raps for having allowed limestone extraction
in barangay Montesuerte of said town despite a quarrying ban near the Chocolate
Hills area in the towns of Carmen, Sagbayan and Batuan.
Gov.
Aumentado vowed that appropriate charges will be filed against the officials who
were linked to the illegal quarry.
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| | GROUNDBREAKING.
The first Bohol Diagnostic center will soon start construction at the former TB
Pavilion in barangay Dao, this city. The project of the provincial government
is a joint effort of Inyong Alagad Foundation, Home Reach Foundation and FCB Foundation.
Attending at yesterday's groundbreaking rites are Gov. Erico Aumentado, BM Conching
Lim, health committee chair; BM Corazon Galbreath, BM Ma. Fe Camacho-Lejos, Prov'l
Administrator Tomas Abapo Jr., Prov'l Atty. Handel Lagunay, Prov'l Health Officer
Reimoises Cabaglot, Toto Jabonillo, Bong Lerias, Richard Uy, Oliver Yu and Peter
Dejaresco. Fr. Crispin Varquez was the officiating priest. |
| 
