OLONGAPO CITY – Olongapo City Mayor Rolen C. Paulino, Vice Mayor Aquilino Cortez, Jr., eight city councilors, a former councilor and four department heads were suspended for six months over alleged irregularity regarding the 25-year lease of government property to SM, the biggest mall operator in the country.
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) served a suspension order by the Office of the Ombudsman on Monday at the city hall.
Paulino, Cortez, councilors Noel Atienza, Linus Bacay, Benjamin Cajudo II, Edna Elane, Eduardo Guerrero, Alreuela Bundang-Ortiz, former councilor Ellen Dabu, ABC president Randy Sionzon, Ip representative Egmedio Gonzales Jr., as well as city administrator Mamerto Malabute, city planning chief TK Balde, city accountant Cristiflor Buduhan, city legal head Ana Florentino Sison, and city budget chief Joy Fernandez Cahilig were suspended after being charged of Simple Misconduct by the Ombudsman for the awarding of the lease of Marikit Park to SM Prime Holdings (SMPH) earlier than what is indicated in the procedure.
Paulino showed to the media his suspension orders on Monday afternoon in front of his supporters at the city hall, telling them that the effectivity date starts on September 3 and will end on March 3. He also told his constituents to give their unending support to Councilor Lugie Lipumano, who will stand in as mayor of the city.
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 despite the status quo order ended last week. (Dante M. Salvana)
