Bimmaley municipal mayor cleared in administrative case

By Eva Visperas 

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan   – The provincial board of Pangasinan Monday acquitted a municipal mayor in an administrative case filed against him for alleged abuse of authority, dishonesty and grave misconduct.

Binmaley Mayor Simplicio “Sammy” Rosario was cleared by the committee on good government and accountability of public officers chaired by sixth district board member Alfonso Bince Jr.

The committee recommended the dismissal of the case for lack of basis. All 13 board members signed the recommendation in favor of Rosario.

Bince said the committee decided to terminate the presentation of testimonial evidence against Rosario after lawyer Armenio Escat Jr., whose appointment as municipal administrator of Binmaley was the issue of the complaint, died of a stroke on Feb. 24.

He said the evidence on record was sufficient for the committee to decide on the case.

The complaint against Rosario, which was filed by a certain Leon Castro, centers on his appointment of Escat as municipal administrator.

In the complaint, Castro said Escat was a US citizen and was related to Rosario by affinity.

“It appears that Escat, at the time of his appointment was a resident of Binmaley, Pangasinan for more than 24 months already,” the report said.

The committee said although Escat was qualified to be a permanent resident of the US, he remained a resident of the Philippines and Binmaley.

“His intention to reside in Binmaley and the Philippines is bolstered by his being a qualified member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and was allowed to practice law here.”

The municipal council of Binmaley earlier confirmed Escat’s appointment, the committee said. 

On the issue of nepotism, Bince said the prohibition affects only career positions, where the appointee may not be removed except for  cause and after due process, notice and hearing.

“The office of the municipal administrator is not a career position. It has no security of tenure. His term of office is co-terminus with the appointing officer,” the committee said. 

Rosario said he was grateful for the decision of the provincial board.

“I hope people who were blinded by their ill motives would stop now and allow me to work for our town and our people,” he said.