DILG recognizes Moreno as CDO City Mayor

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) yesterday issued a statement “recognizing” Oscar Moreno as mayor of Cagayan De Oro City despite dismissal orders issued by the Office of the Ombudsman.

In a letter addressed to Moreno dated Nov. 17, 2015, DILG Undersecretary Austere Panadero, said that since the dismissal order is not yet final and executory pending the resolution of the Motion for Reconsideration by the Office of the Ombudsman, the DILG still recognizes him as Mayor of Cagayan De Oro City.

Panadero said the resolution of the Court of Appeals (CA) specifically enjoined all “department, its officers and agents and all persons acting under them, from enforcing, implementing, and effecting the decision dated August 2015 of the Office of the Ombudsman.”

DILG regional director Nilo Castanares said the two-page letter which was furnished the regional office was addressed to Mayor Moreno.

Castanares reportedly tried to serve Vice Mayor Caesar Ian Acenas a copy of the document but Acenas did not sign it.

The DILG issued the clarification in response to queries made by the Bureau of Local Government and Finance (BLGF) on who should be recognized as Cagayan De Oro City Mayor.

“The DILG wants to emphasize that there could be only City Mayor in order to resolve the “standoff ” and unhamper the basic services that the people need,” Castanares said.

No recall Lawyer Severando Arana, of the DILG’s legal department, said the actions of Vice Mayor Acenas following the letter of the DILG Undersecretary could be questioned as to its legal implication.

The DILG served the dismissal order against Mayor Moreno Thursday last week paving the way for the assumption of Vice Mayor Acenas as City Mayor.

Panadero’s letter, however, did not recall the installation of Acenas stating only that the DILG ‘recognizes Oscar Moreno as the City Mayor of Cagayan De Oro City.”

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales has approved the dismissal of Moreno last October 6, 2015 for Grave Misconduct over a settlement agreement he entered with Ajinomoto Philippines without authorization from the Sangguniang Panlungsod in violation of the Local Government Code.

Under the Ajinomoto agreement, Moreno reportedly allowed the firm to pay only 300,000 out of the 2.9 million business tax which the firm was supposed to pay the city government.

The order of dismissal also penalized Moreno and City Treasurer Glenn Banez with perpetual disqualification to hold public office and forfeiture of all retirement benefits.

Moreno is up for reelection. (PNA)