By Jonas Reyes
OLONGAPO CITY, Zambales — Mayor Rolen Paulino, along with Vice Mayor Aquino Cortez, eight councilors, and other city officials, was suspended for six months after the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) served a suspension order by the Office of the Ombudsman on Monday at the city hall.
Olongapo Mayor Rolen Paulino
(Jonas Reyes / MANILA BULLETIN) The group was suspended after being charged of Simple Misconduct by the Ombudsman for the awarding of the lease of Marikit Park to a mall developer earlier than what is indicated in the procedure. Paulino showed to the media his suspension order Monday afternoon in front of his supporters at city hall, telling them that the effectivity date of their suspension is Sept. 3, 2018 up to Mar. 3, 2019. He also told his constituents to give their unending support to Councilor Lugie Lipumano, who will stand in as mayor of the city in the duration of his suspension, along with that of the vice mayor and eight other councilors. Included in the suspension order were Councilors Benjamin Cajudo II, Edgardo Guerrero, Noel Atienza, Alreuela Bundang-Ortiz, Edna Elane, Linus Bacay, Randy Sionzon and Egmidio Gonzales Jr. and former Councilor Ellen Calma Dabu. The suspension order also included members of the Special Bids and Awards Committee (SBAC) Tony-Kar Balde III, Cristiflor Buduhan, Anna Marin Sison, Mamerto Malabute, and Joy Cahilig. Paulino pointed out that the suspension order would give him a fresh new term in 2019 since his suspension order would render him a broken term. Paulino tried to get a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) from the court, but was only granted a 15-day status quo order for them to justify their request of a TRO. The requested TRO was not granted.
Olongapo Mayor Rolen Paulino(Jonas Reyes / MANILA BULLETIN) The group was suspended after being charged of Simple Misconduct by the Ombudsman for the awarding of the lease of Marikit Park to a mall developer earlier than what is indicated in the procedure. Paulino showed to the media his suspension order Monday afternoon in front of his supporters at city hall, telling them that the effectivity date of their suspension is Sept. 3, 2018 up to Mar. 3, 2019. He also told his constituents to give their unending support to Councilor Lugie Lipumano, who will stand in as mayor of the city in the duration of his suspension, along with that of the vice mayor and eight other councilors. Included in the suspension order were Councilors Benjamin Cajudo II, Edgardo Guerrero, Noel Atienza, Alreuela Bundang-Ortiz, Edna Elane, Linus Bacay, Randy Sionzon and Egmidio Gonzales Jr. and former Councilor Ellen Calma Dabu. The suspension order also included members of the Special Bids and Awards Committee (SBAC) Tony-Kar Balde III, Cristiflor Buduhan, Anna Marin Sison, Mamerto Malabute, and Joy Cahilig. Paulino pointed out that the suspension order would give him a fresh new term in 2019 since his suspension order would render him a broken term. Paulino tried to get a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) from the court, but was only granted a 15-day status quo order for them to justify their request of a TRO. The requested TRO was not granted.