The head of the Public Attorney’s Office in Central Visayas (PAO-7) can now report back to work.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales reversed an earlier ruling on Regional PAO Director Maria G-ree Calinawan which found her guilty of “disgraceful and immoral conduct.”
In an order which Morales approved, graft investigation and prosecution officer Voltaire Africa said it was never proven that Calinawan knew that the policeman whom she had a relationship with was married.
Sought for comment yesterday Calinawan, who was serving a one year suspension starting in September 1 last year, said she was elated with the ruling.
Back pay
“I have nothing much to comment about that. I’m just happy that finally I can go back to work,” she said in a text message to Cebu Daily News.
Calinawan will take over the post temporarily held by lawyer Danilo Tenebro who served as acting director of the PAO-7.
The anti-graft office earlier imposed a one year suspension on Calinawan after she was found to be engaged in an illicit relationship with a married policeman.
Africa’s order to lift the suspension was only released to the parties last February 4.
Calinawan said she will likely receive back pay for the months that she was suspended without pay.
Credence
A fact-finding inquiry by the Ombudsman-Visayas earlier yielded documents which confirmed that Calinawan gave birth in Quezon City on Oct. 25, 2004.
Abelardo Yumul Jr., the child’s father, “acknowledged” the child as shown in the birth record.
Police personnel records in Camp Crame also showed that the child’s father, Yumul, was married and a member of the Philippine National Police assigned at the National Capital Region in Camp Ricardo Papa, Taguig, Metro Manila.
In contesting the suspension order imposed against her last year, Calinawan said she is a “solo parent who is raising on her own child out of the salaries she earned for the past 10 years without any help from the father, who she learned later on was married.”
The anti-graft office gave credence to Calinawan’s claims.