Palace stops suspension of P’sinan town mayor

By Eva Visperas

URBIZTONDO, Pangasinan– Malacañang has issued an order on Monday granting the appeal of this town’s mayor stopping his 60-day preventive suspension meted by the provincial board in an administrative case filed against him.

The two-page order from the Office of the President signed by Michael Aguinaldo, deputy executive secretary for legal affairs, granted the appeal of Mayor Ernesto Balolong Jr. 

“I am very thankful for this order. This should settle the issue on who is still the mayor here,” Balolong said in a press conference Tuesday. 

But for Vice Mayor Martin Raul Sison, he is the acting mayor following the preventive suspension order issued by the provincial board against Balolong.

Balolong though continued performing his functions as mayor in his residence, while Sison holds office in the municipal hall.

Balolong said he tolerated this set-up to avoid chaos, although Sison has not taken his oath of office as acting mayor nor has received any directive from proper authorities to take over the post.

Balolong’s suspension order dated April 7 from the office of Gov. Amado Espino Jr. was posted on the mayor’s office on April 15.

Balolong had his appeal ready the following day, but got to file it with the Office of the President on April 21 due to the Holy Week observance.

“There was no single day that I was suspended because I immediately filed an appeal and the Malacañang order has retroactive effect,” he said.

Balolong’s administrative case for grave misconduct, abuse of authority, dereliction of duty and violation of the Local Government Code of 1991 and related laws was filed last Nov. 22 by former municipal treasurer LoidaCancino. 

The case stemmed from the passage by the municipal council of an ordinance on March 28, 2012 authorizing Balolong to negotiate and borrow P52.4 million from the Philippine National Bank to finance local projects.

But the provincial board declared the ordinance null and void on July 16, 2012.

Cancino accused Balolong of withdrawing P26 million from the loan proceeds without an approved appropriation ordinance.