Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Saturday, April 14, maintained that Davao del Norte Gov. Edwin Jubahib’s right to due process was not violated when the Office of the President (OP) ordered his preventive suspension for two months following complaints of “grave abuse of authority and oppression.”
 

“The issuance of the preventive suspension did not violate Gov. Jubahib's right to due process,” his statement read.
 

“Firstly, this office ordered the respondent's suspension to prevent any undue interference in the conduct of the investigation,” Bersamin explained.
 

Jubahib’s preventive suspension was only ordered after the “issues were joined” in accordance with various laws and regulations, such as Section 63 (a) of Republic Act No. 7160, which states that the President can impose preventive suspension if the respondent is an elective official of a province, a highly urbanized or an independent component city.
 

Bersamin said it also follows Sections 1 and 4, Rule 6 of Administrative Order No. 23 series of 1992, which prescribes the rules and procedures on the investigation of administrative disciplinary cases.
 

His statement was issued after Jubahib refused to follow the suspension order issued by Malacañang and said his suspension was a form of political harassment.
 

The governor, who was a political underdog that won the gubernatorial race in Davao del Norte in 2019, claimed that the Palace’s decision was heavily influenced by his political enemies in the province, particularly Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr.
 

His 2019 victory defeated Rodolfo “Rodney” del Rosario Jr. whose family has ruled in the province for decades.
 

The Del Rosarios and Lagdameo are close relatives. They were also closely identified with the administration of former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
 

Bersamin stated that the OP made a “thorough assessment” of the administrative complaint filed by Board Member Orly Amit against the governor.
 

“The OP found that the complaint sufficiently alleged grave abuse of authority and oppression on the part of Gov. Jubahib in connection with the recall of BM Amit's service vehicle without legal basis,” he said.
 

“The OP remains committed to ensuring transparency and fairness in all administrative proceedings,” the official added.
 

Reports said that Amit accused Jubahib of grave abuse of authority and oppression after the governor took a capitol-owned vehicle assigned to the board member and reassigned it to the Provincial Engineering Office. The vehicle was assigned back to Amit after a month.