Suspension vs. Gica takes effect today

A one-year suspension meted by the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas against Dumanjug Mayor Efren Gica and his brother, councilor Erwin Gica for simple misconduct and oppression takes effect at 10:30 this morning.

DILG 7 Chief Legal Officer Aiiza Fiel Nogra said the endorsement of the regional office was done last July 5 and forwarded to DILG Cebu Provincial Director Jerome Gonzales.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by Marlene Quirante of Barangay Pawa, Dumanjug for arbitrary detention against the town policemen, Mayor Gica and his brother.

Mayor Gica said he already filed a motion for reconsideration (MR) and petition to dismiss the case before the Court of Appeals (CA).

“We will wait for that. We will exhaust all legal remedies. We are confident that we will be exonerated,” the mayor said.

DILG 7 Director Rene Burdeos said the suspended officials cannot perform their official function for one year starting today but they can still visit their office since it is open to all.

“Nirespeto lang mi sa rules sa ombudsman. Mao gani to pag-communicate ni Provincial Director Jerome Gonzales nga iyang i-serve ang suspension, akong giingnan nga ako na lang kuhaon. That’s the reason nga naa ko karong adlawa diri sa syudad kay aron dili na mahasol ang atoang mga opisyales sa DILG sa pag-serve kay layolayo man ang Dumanjug, ako nalang mikuha kay kasabot man ta sa balaod (I respect the rules of the Ombudsman. I told the Ombudsman I will get the suspension order to spare DILG the trouble because I understand the law),” Gica said.

“This is not the end of the road. Naka-file man ta og MR, duna ta’y motion for reconsideration. Naka-file pud ta og petition sa CA. I am 99.9 percent sure nga ma-reverse ra gihapon ni,” he said.

Gica said that even if he is suspended for one year, services in the town will continue.

“I don’t think the vice mayor has anything to worry about… We are not also prohibited from visiting the municipal hall. We can still be there, I can still guide my vice mayor. It’s only that I can’t perfrom the functions of a mayor,” he said.

Burdeos said the vice mayor of Dumanjug will be given a copy of the order and then they will automatically take over the authority to perform the function as mayor without oath-taking.