The Sandiganbayan has ordered the indefinite suspension of Mayor Datu Sajid Ampatuan of Shariff Saydona Mustapha who is facing a P98-million graft case.
The court’s Third Division issued the order following Ampatuan’s motion to voluntarily abide by the preventive suspension under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
“The Court hereby orders the suspension pendente lite of accused Datu Sajid Ampatuan as Mayor of the Municipality of Sharuff Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao and from any other public position he may now or hereafter hold for a period of 90 days,” the court said.
“Based on the attending circumstances, the Court holds that the requisites for the preventive suspension of a public officer under Section 13 of R.A. 3019 have been met.
“Thus, the suspension pendente lite of accused Ampatuan as municipal mayor of the Municipality of Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao is in order,” the court said.
Ampatuan’s case involved the alleged ghost purchase of palay, corn, seeds and fertilizer from a local trader worth P98.2 million in June 2009.