THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has appointed a municipal councilor to replace Alice Guo as the acting mayor of Bamban in Tarlac after the Ombudsman ordered her dismissal for grave misconduct.
Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said municipal councilor Erano Timbang would temporarily serve as town mayor for three months after he took his oath of office at Camp Crame, Quezon City, on August 14.
“I felt sad that our town became known this way, but rest assured that I will do my job as an acting mayor,” Timbang said shortly after taking his oath.
Municipal councilor Erano Timbang is sworn in by Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. as acting mayor of Bamban, Tarlac at the Camp Crame national police headquarters in Quezon City on Aug. 14, 2024. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN
Abalos noted that Timbang was acquitted by the anti-graft court for opposing the issuance of a permit to the raided Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) in the municipality.
After the three months, Abalos said, the vice mayor would succeed Guo as mayor.
He also said he had already instructed the regional director of the DILG to submit a report on filling up the vacant posts amid the suspension of other local officials.
In a 25-page decision released to the media on Tuesday, the Ombudsman ordered the dismissal of suspended Mayor Guo for grave misconduct.
The Ombudsman also stripped her of all her retirement benefits and disqualified her perpetually from public office.
The Ombudsman also suspended for three months the following officials: Bamban Vice Mayor Leonardo Anunciacion; Business Permit and Licensing Officer Edwin Ocampo; Municipal Legal Officer Adenn Sigua; and Sangguniang Bayan (municipal council) members Johny Sales, Jayson Galang, Nikko Balilo, Ernesto Salting, Jose Salting Jr., Robin Mangiliman, Jose Casmo Aguilar, Mary Andrei Lacsamana, and Ranier Rivera.
They were found guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service.
Municipal councilor Erano Timbang is sworn in by Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. as acting mayor of Bamban, Tarlac at the Camp Crame national police headquarters in Quezon City on Aug. 14, 2024. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN
Municipal councilor Erano Timbang is sworn in by Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. as acting mayor of Bamban, Tarlac at the Camp Crame national police headquarters in Quezon City on Aug. 14, 2024. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN
Municipal councilor Erano Timbang is sworn in by Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. as acting mayor of Bamban, Tarlac at the Camp Crame national police headquarters in Quezon City on Aug. 14, 2024. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN
Municipal councilor Erano Timbang is sworn in by Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. as acting mayor of Bamban, Tarlac at the Camp Crame national police headquarters in Quezon City on Aug. 14, 2024. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN
Municipal councilor Erano Timbang is sworn in by Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. as acting mayor of Bamban, Tarlac at the Camp Crame national police headquarters in Quezon City on Aug. 14, 2024. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN
Municipal councilor Erano Timbang is sworn in by Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. as acting mayor of Bamban, Tarlac at the Camp Crame national police headquarters in Quezon City on Aug. 14, 2024. PHOTOS BY ISMAEL DE JUAN
Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it would proceed with its scheduled investigation against Guo to determine probable cause for alleged material representation in her certificate of candidacy in 2022, claiming that she was a Filipino citizen.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said on Wednesday that the dismissal order of the Office of the Ombudsman against Guo for grave misconduct would not affect the preliminary investigation to be conducted by the Comelec Law Department for material misrepresentation, an election offense.
“Our case shall proceed no matter what,” added Garcia.
At the same time, the poll chief also pointed out that no special election would be held in Bamban, saying that the incumbent vice mayor, now the acting mayor, would succeed Guo as defined under the rule of succession.
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