DILG hit for defying CA ruling reinstating Palawan mayor

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has defied a ruling of the Court of Appeals (CA) that voided the order of the Office of the Ombudsman to dismiss Mayor Lucilo Bayron of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, according to the mayor’s lawyer.

Andrei Bon Tagum said the DILG tried to serve the dismissal order this week despite the CA ruling which cleared Bayron of administrative charges.

In a decision issued on Aug. 8, the appellate court said Bayron could not be held liable for serious dishonesty and grave misconduct for appointing his son to the city hall. The CA said Bayron had “no deliberate or malicious intent” to hide his relation with his son when he signed the contract appointing him to lead an environmental project.

“In defiance of the CA ruling, the DILG is now trying to serve…the ombudsman dismissal order dated July 6,” Tagum said.

Around 400 residents, including some employees, have barricaded the city hall complex since Sunday.

Clinging to post?

Bayron’s critics claimed the mayor refused to vacate his post.

Joey Mirasol, who represented a civil society organization that filed the complaint against Bayron, said the mayor prevented Florida Dijan, DILG-Mimaropa director, from serving the dismissal order signed by DILG officerin-charge Catalino Cuy.

Mirasol said trucks also barricaded the roads leading to the city hall to prevent the entry of DILG personnel.

Mario Lauron, executive assistant of Vice Mayor Luis Marcaida, said services and transactions at the city hall have been paralyzed since Monday.