Cebu mayor suspended for grave misconduct

The Office of the Ombudsman has suspended for one year the mayor of Toledo City in Cebu for grave misconduct.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales directed the Department of the Interior and Local Government to implement the suspension order on Mayor John Henry Osmeña.

Morales also ordered the filing of multiple graft charges against Osmeña before the Sandiganbayan yesterday.

The case stemmed from Osmeña’s refusal to release the real property tax share of Barangay Daanlungsod amounting to P17,733,264.80 in the last two quarters of 2014 and for the fiscal year of 2015.

In his defense, Osmeña claimed he wanted to “pro- tect government funds,” saying there is a pending boundary dispute between Barangays Sangi and Daanlungsod before the Court of Appeals.

However, the ombudsman said the Sangguniang Panglungsod had long settled the boundary dispute.

“There is no question that the city council has the jurisdiction to settle or resolve boundary disputes,” the court ruling stated.

Morales said the Local Government Code mandates that the real property tax share of barangays shall be released to the barangay treasurer on a quarterly basis within five days at the end of each quarter.

The release of funds “shall not be subject to any liens or holdback or whatever purpose,” she said.