Vice mayor in Leyte escapes suspension

The vice mayor of Sta. Fe town in Leyte had escaped administrative penalty of suspension from office after finally recognizing the appointed councilor.

The Leyte Provincial Board, led by Vice Governor Carlo Loreto who also heads the PB blue ribbon committee, had approved on February 12 the compromise agreement—dated February 3, 2018— between complainant, Councilor Assandro Echague, and respondent, Vice Mayor Ismael Lantajo.

Under the agreement, the PB directed Lantajo to take notice of the appointment of Echague; allow him to sit as councilor of the Sta. Fe Municipal Council; acknowledge his attendance in the Council sessions from August 2017 to January 2018; and allow him to receive the corresponding salaries and benefits of a full-pledged councilor from the time of his appointment on August 2017 onwards.

On October 6, 2017, Echague filed before the PB a complaint against Lantajo for oppression, grave abuse of authority, dereliction of duty, disobedience and unlawful, willful disregard of the Local Government Code, and damages. This complaint was referred to the PB’s blue ribbon committee on October 9, or three days after.

Upon evaluation of the motions and comment submitted by the two parties, the committee set the case for pre-trial on January 29, this year, and directed them to submit their respective pre-trial briefs.

During the pre-trial conference, both parties also offered and admitted that Echague was appointed by Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla as a new member of the Sta. Fe Council, due to the permanent vacancy created by the termination from office of Councilor Melchor Quemado pursuant to the decision issued by the Office of the Ombudsman.

They also agreed to the joinder of issues in the case whether or not Lantajo is administratively liable for not recognizing Echague.

During the February 9 trial, both parties assisted by their respective lawyers appeared. Both parties, on joint motion, submitted a compromise agreement and moved for its adoption as the decision over the case.

“However, considering that preventive suspension is a mere interim remedial measure and the compromise agreement of the parties already address the situation sought to be protected by imposing the said penalty, this Committee finds Complainant’s Motion for Preventive Suspension moot and academic,” read the committee report.

“In view thereof, this Committee hereby approves the Compromise Agreement dated 3 February 2018 of complainant Assandro D. Echague and respondent Hon. Ismael V. Lantajo,” further read the decision.

Copy of the said decision was forwarded to Ombudsman (Visayas) acting director Eduardo Kangleon in Marasbaras, Tacloban City, and to Governor Petilla.