DILG serves suspension order to Batangas Governor; swears in Vice Governor as replacement

By Ronron
January 16, 2007

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) served on Tuesday the preventive suspension order issued by Ombudsman against Batangas Governor Armando Sanchez after receiving the go-signal from the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The order was delivered by Region IV officers and was received shortly after lunch time by Sanchez’ spokesman and the Batangas Provincial Administrator, Atty. Ronnie Geron.

A few minutes later, or at 2pm, Vice Governor Ricky Recto was sworn in as acting Governor by DILG Undersecretary for Local Governments Wencelito Andanar at the DILG head office in Quezon City.

“The DOJ said the preventive suspension order (against Sanchez) is not prohibited, that we can implement it,” Andanar said in a phone interview.

On Monday, the DILG held in abeyance the implementation of the preventive suspension order against Sanchez since it opted to get the DOJ opinion on whether or not they can serve the order at the start of the election period.

Sanchez was placed under preventive suspension by the Ombudsman as his case remains under investigation. Sanchez is being complained of alleged irregularities attending the procurement of contract of services with a private firm in relation to the Provincial Real Property Tax Computerization Project in the amount of P350 million.

In a radio interview, Geron said Sanchez will not leave the provincial capitol of Batangas until they get an action from the Court of Appeals where they plan to file a petition for certiorari to get a temporary restraining order against the Ombudsman order.

Andanar expressed confidence, however, that Sanchez will eventually vacate the capitol premises after his supporters’ emotion turns calm./DMS