Sandiganbayan orders preventive suspension of Puerto Princesa tourism official
Published Sep 28, 2019 01:10 pm
By Czarina Nicole Ong-Ki
The Sandiganbayan Sixth Division has ordered the 90-day suspension pendente lite of Puerto Princesa Tourism Department Head Aileen Cynthia Maggay Amurao in light of her pending breach of conduct charge.
Sandiganbayan (MANILA BULLETIN)
Amurao was accused of violating Section 7(d) of R.A. 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Stands for Public Officials for soliciting money and other favors from private individuals and entitles for the tourism activities of Puerto Princesa from February to April 2014.
In an order dated July 23, the court directed Amurao to show cause why she should not be suspended in accordance with Section 13 of R.A. 3019. She filed her compliance and manifestation on August 7. She said that a violation of R.A. 6713 was not one of the offenses covered by the mandatory suspension under Section 13 of R.A. 3019.
However, the anti-graft court disagreed. The court stressed that preventive suspension should be imposed upon the accused charged with "any offense involving fraud upon government, and any offense involving public funds or property."
"The preventive suspension of accused Amurao becomes mandatory. Once the Information is found to be sufficient in form and substance or its validity is determined, it becomes the ministerial duty of this Court to issue an order of preventive suspension against the accused," the resolution stated.
The six-page resolution dated September 5 was written by Associate Justice Karl Miranda with the concurrence of Chairperson Sarah Jane Fernandez and Associate Justice Kevin Narce Vivero.
Amurao was charged alongside Operations Assistant Joyce Cabanag Enriquez, Officer I Michie Hitosis Meneses, and Operations Assistant Michael Angelo Lucero.
The charge was made against them after they reportedly sent solicitation letters to private individuals asking for sponsorship of the city's tourism activities from February to April 2014.
Sandiganbayan (MANILA BULLETIN)
Amurao was accused of violating Section 7(d) of R.A. 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Stands for Public Officials for soliciting money and other favors from private individuals and entitles for the tourism activities of Puerto Princesa from February to April 2014.
In an order dated July 23, the court directed Amurao to show cause why she should not be suspended in accordance with Section 13 of R.A. 3019. She filed her compliance and manifestation on August 7. She said that a violation of R.A. 6713 was not one of the offenses covered by the mandatory suspension under Section 13 of R.A. 3019.
However, the anti-graft court disagreed. The court stressed that preventive suspension should be imposed upon the accused charged with "any offense involving fraud upon government, and any offense involving public funds or property."
"The preventive suspension of accused Amurao becomes mandatory. Once the Information is found to be sufficient in form and substance or its validity is determined, it becomes the ministerial duty of this Court to issue an order of preventive suspension against the accused," the resolution stated.
The six-page resolution dated September 5 was written by Associate Justice Karl Miranda with the concurrence of Chairperson Sarah Jane Fernandez and Associate Justice Kevin Narce Vivero.
Amurao was charged alongside Operations Assistant Joyce Cabanag Enriquez, Officer I Michie Hitosis Meneses, and Operations Assistant Michael Angelo Lucero.
The charge was made against them after they reportedly sent solicitation letters to private individuals asking for sponsorship of the city's tourism activities from February to April 2014.