Keep off. Gov. Roel Degamo called on provincial employees to refrain from participating in what he called “political intramural” and called on them to do their jobs quietly.
In remarks during the flag raising ceremony at the Aquino Freedom Park last Monday, Degamo appealed for vigilance in connection with the second dismissal order from Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales over a case similar to the first, but filed by a different person.
Ombudsman Morales issued the second dismissal order on Governor Degamo, Provincial Treasurer Danilo Mendez, and Provincial Accountant Teodorico Reyes, and this time included a fourth official — Provincial Engr. Franco Alpuerto — for grave misconduct with the aggravating circumstances of serious dishonesty and grave abuse of authority.
Copies of the order were received by some of the parties Thursday, Feb. 2.
The Ombudsman also directed that copies of the Order be given to the Department of Interior & Local Government, with instructions to implement the decision within five days from receipt.
Along with the penalty of dismissal, the Ombudsman’s order included the accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification from reemployment in government service.
Degamo has asked the Court of Appeals for a Temporary Restraining Order to prevent the DILG from implementing the decision.
The case involves similar facts in the case earlier filed by private citizen June Manuel Vincent Gaudan over the disbursement of calamity funds amounting to P143,268,441.59 in 2012.
The money was released despite the withdrawal of the Special Allotment Release Order by the Department of Budget & Management, with a demand for the return of the money to the national government.
This second administrative case stemmed from a complaint filed on Oct. 20, 2014 by the Field Investigation Office of the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas and Board Member Jessica Jane Villanueva, who claimed that the respondents acted with manifest partiality or evident bad faith in the awarding of contracts amounting to P955,000,000 and making advance payments to the contractors amounting to P143,268,441.59.
The Governor expressed confidence he will hurdle this “turmoil” and that he will again be proven innocent.
After his first dismissal in June last year, Degamo was reinstated by the Court of Appeals, who overturned the findings of the Ombudsman.
The CA issued a permanent injunction order, and downgraded Degamo’s offense from Grave Misconduct to Simple Misconduct. The Court of Appeals also applied the Aguinaldo Doctrine on Degamo’s case, absolving him of all administrative liability in this case as a result of his election as Governor.
This case is now pending before the Supreme Court.
Degamo told the provincial employees that he trusts in the goodness of the Lord, and that he abided with the law in implementing the projects for the welfare of those directly affected, especially in times of disaster/calamity.
The DILG Regional Office said they have yet to receive an order from their Central Office to implement Degamo’s suspension.
