OMB affirms CamNor gov’s suspension

The Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) has affirmed its order suspending for one year Camarines Norte Governor Edgardo Tallado for oppression and grave abuse of authority over his alleged refusal to comply with the Civil Service Commission’s (CSC’s) directive to reinstate provincial veterinarian Edgardo Gonzales in November, 2013.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales dropped Tallado’s insistence to apply the condonation doctrine and denial of due process in his case.

The OMB resolution approved last week stated: “The questioned act persisted even after reelection” and that “records show that Tallado’s defiance of CSC's directive to reinstate Gonzales extended up to his present term of office.”

Due to the resignation of Provincial Legal Officer Sim Mata in June, 2013, Tallado’s co-accused, has his one-year suspension converted into a fine equivalent to his salary for six months.

Likewise, another respondent to the case Supervising Administrative Officer Mario dela Cruz was found guilty of simple misconduct and ordered suspended for six months without pay.

The anti-graft czar said respondents “were given the opportunity to be heard” and that “they failed to present grounds or evidence to merit a modification or reversal of the assailed (suspension) order.”