PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan- The Palawan Provincial Board imposed an additional 20-month suspension on Narra town Mayor Gerandy Danao due to administrative cases filed by his own Sangguniang Bayan members.
In a decision dated September 23 that was signed by Palawan Governor Jose Chaves Alvarez, the provincial board found Danao guilty of grave misconduct and violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, gross negligence, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
The provincial board voted 13-0 to sanction Danao. The 20-month suspension will be apart from the 60-day suspension he was earlier meted, and which will end on September 28.
“This office hereby implements and directs Gerandy Danao to comply therewith and serve the suspension of 20 months as imposed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan effective immediately,” the order stated.
Danao said in an interview that he will abide by the law and the order issued against him.
“Wala naman tayong magagawa. Basta ang alam ko ay wala akong ginagawang masama sa kanila,” he said.
The grave misconduct complaint against Danao was based on a complaint filed against him for issuing a permit to a cockpit arena in his town without the approval of the local Sanggunian Bayan.
He also allegedly failed to prepare and submit an Executive Budget for 2020 within the deadline set by the council.
The board also claimed that Danao failed to enforce and implement Municipal Ordinance No. 2020-976, an ordinance appropriating P9.8 million during the pandemic, and mismanagement of the Narra Municipal Water System.
On July 30, Danao filed four administrative charges against Vice Mayor Crispin Lumba and the town’s councilors for dereliction of duty, violation of Republic Act 3019, which is also known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, grave misconduct, and gross negligence.
Meanwhile, the provincial board is yet to issue its statement regarding its decision.