The Cebu Provincial Board (PB) deferred action on a committee report recommending the six-month suspension of Dumanjug Mayor Nelson Garcia for grave abuse of authority.
PB Member Alex Binghay, an ally of Garcia, said he only received his copy of the report yesterday morning.
“I would like to request that the report be moved to the next session so we can decide objectively and intelligently,” he said.
The PB was scheduled to decide on the report by the committee on complaints and investigation yesterday but Binghay insisted that the decision be made next week instead.
Mayor Garcia was present during the session. Also present was Vice Mayor Efren Guntrano “Gungun” Gica, the complainant.
Appointing authority
Lawyer Pulchra Marie Acevedo, PB secretary, clarified that the board members were furnished copies of the report as early as Friday afternoon.
Binghay said he wasn’t at his office last Friday and there was no work over the weekend.
In 2013, Gica filed administrative charges against Garcia for appointing Emmylou Cabonillas as Sangguniang Bayan (SB) Secretary even when the local government code states that the appointing authority lies with the vice mayor. “At least I can sleep for a week now,” Garcia said.
The PB also adopted a committee report to clear Carcar City Mayor Nicepuro Apura of charges of grave abuse of authority and oppression filed against him due to lack of evidence.
Last May 2014, Councilor Archilles Gantuangco alleged that Apura withheld the councilor’s request for official travels.