TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan—Dismissed City Mayor Jefferson Soriano has been reinstated after the 4th Division of the Court of Appeals overturned an earlier decision promulgated in January.
Judge Maita Israel Deray administered Soriano’s oath at the Tuguegarao City Hall, where the CA decision was announced on Wednesday.
In a copy of the decision presented to reporters here, the CA said Soriano should only be suspended three months instead of being dismissed from service.
The Ombudsman’s dismissal order had said: “Soriano committed grave abuse of authority when he gave a provisional permit to operate a parking terminal without the approval of the city council.”
The appellate court, however, disagreed with the anti-graft court, saying Soriano only committed simple misconduct, a violation that should be imposed with a 90-day suspension as penalty.
In August 2014, while serving another term as city mayor, Soriano was ordered dismissed by the Ombudsman for issuing a permit to a carnival and baratilyo (bargain stores) operation without the City Council’s approval.
The dismissal order was overturned after the appellate court downgraded his penalty to a suspension.
Soriano is currently serving a new term as city mayor after he won in the May 2016 elections.