SOME local officials from Leyte and Eastern Samar have been sanctioned by the Office of the Ombudsman for malfeasance in office.
Deputy Ombudsman for Visayas Paul Elmer Clemente ordered the dismissal from the service of Sergio Batistis Jr., provincial board member of Albuera, Leyte.
Batistis was involved in the selling of fake certificates of appearance and receipts to interested participants of the Philippine Councilor’s League National Board meetings.
In June 2015, Batistis was arrested for selling falsified PCL official receipts and certificates of appearance in an entrapment operation.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for Visayas found Guiuan, Eastern Samar officials—Arsenio Salamida, Esperanza Cotin, Ma. Nenita Ecleo, Felipe Padual, Danilo Colandog and Gilberto Labicane—guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and were ordered suspended without pay for six months and one day.
The respondents, acting as the bids and awards committee, authorized the procurement of a P2.1-million remanufactured fire truck without public bidding in February 2007.
Clemente ordered Guiuan Mayor Christopher Sheen Gonzales to implement the suspension of the Eastern Samar officials.
