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Ombudsman suspends La Union mayor over plaza rehab

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Michelle Soriano, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/05/03/20190503-san-fernando.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>San Fernando City, La Union Mayor Hermenegildo Gualberto has been issued a preventive suspension order allegedly due to misuse of local government funds in the rehabilitation of the City Plaza. Michelle Soriano, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>The Office of the Ombudsman issued a preventive suspension order against San Fernando City, La Union Mayor Hermenegildo “Dong” Gualberto due to the alleged misuse of local government funds.Gualberto will not receive his salary and is prohibited from performing his duties as the local chief executive for a period of not more than six months.The order stemmed from a complaint filed by Barangay Chairman Samuel Jucar, backed by 46 other barangay chairpersons in the city.In the complaint-affidavit, Jucar cited the Audit Observation Memorandum (AOM) issued by the Commission on Audit (COA) last year which states that the budget for the rehabilitation of the City Plaza amounting to P66,473,503.90 was taken from the Development Fund (DF) for 2018.It further explains that “the City Plaza upgrading does not fall squarely within the context of the projects that may be funded out of the 20% DF.”According to the AOM, the significant amount should have been used for priority development projects with high impact on the socio-economic and environmental development of the city.In an official statement, the reelectionist mayor said the case only aims to taint his image in view of the May 13 midterm elections. “This preventive suspension emanates from a case which I have never seen or been given the opportunity to examine or oppose. It also comes with undue haste and at a suspicious time – two weeks shy of the elections,” Gualberto said.Gualberto was given 10 days to file a counter-affidavit. Vice Mayor Alfredo Pablo Ortega will serve as acting mayor in the meantime.

The Office of the Ombudsman issued a preventive suspension order against San Fernando City, La Union Mayor Hermenegildo “Dong” Gualberto due to the alleged misuse of local government’s funds.

The Office of the Ombudsman issued a preventive suspension order against San Fernando City, La Union Mayor Hermenegildo “Dong” Gualberto due to the alleged misuse of local government’s funds.

Ombudsman suspends La Union mayor over plaza rehab

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Ombudsman suspends La Union mayor over plaza rehab

Michelle Soriano,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 03, 2019 04:47 PM PHT

Read More:

Office of the Ombudsman

Hemenegildo Gualberto

preventive suspension

La Union

local governance

halalan 2019

LGUs

local development

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