Sandiganbayan suspends Negros Oriental governor

The Sandiganbayan Third Division has ordered the 90-day suspension of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Ragay Degamo while his criminal charges in connection with the 1480.7 million worth of Special Allotment and Release Order (SARO) that the local official requested back in 2012 for the infrastructure projects of the province is pending.

The court acted upon the motion to suspend made by the prosecution since Degamo “may frustrate his prosecution or commit further acts of malfeasance or do both.”

Degamo was slapped with one count of graft charge and 11 counts of malversation through falsification charges for misappropriating public funds that were intended to rebuild the province after it was wrecked by typhoon “Sendong” and the massive 6.9 magnitude earthquake.

The prosecution reminded the court that it is mandatory to suspend Degamo while his case is ongoing, but Degamo's lawyer argued that it is best if he remains as governor and serve his mandate to his constituents.

For the court, it is important that they adhere to Section 13 of Re-

public Act (R.A.) 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, which calls for the preventive suspension of local officials once the validity of their Information before court is “positively determined.”

A copy of the suspension ordered has been ordered furnished to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), which will implement the suspension.