THE camp of suspended Cebu City Councilor Jose Daluz III has submitted on Tuesday a petition for certiorari before the Court of Appeals (CA) in an attempt to reverse the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas suspending the official for six months.
Daluz’ petition also asked the appellate court for a temporary restraining order through a preliminary injunction in order to annul the Ombudsman’s decision and its corresponding suspension order.
Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgar Labella, Daluz’ partymate under Barug Team Rama-PDP Laban, said they are hoping that the CA would rule in favor of Daluz.
“Let’s consider the fact that the increase in his SALN (Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth) is due to the properties he inherited from his mother who passed away in 2007,” Labella said.
“He was just simply telling the truth… These are personal properties and I don’t know why he’s being punished for simply telling the truth,” he added.
Former Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama also said he hoped that Daluz would be relieved from the administrative liabilities meted against him.
“I am saddened and it breaks my heart because he represents one voice, the whole of south district. And I wish there are still legal remedies available for him,” said Rama.
On Monday morning, Daluz was ordered suspended for six months by the Ombudsman who found him guilty of less serious dishonesty.
The state’s anti-graft office said they found out that Daluz, through his SALNs, allegedly failed to explain why his personal properties in 2006 suddenly rose from “zero value” to P1,029,000 in 2007.
In an earlier interview, Daluz said he inherited his wealth from his mother died in 2007.
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