Sen. Francis Escudero on Sunday said additional penalties should be imposed on any elected or appointed public official who will defy or refuse to follow an executory legal suspension or removal order.
The additional penalty, Escudero said, should include temporary or permanent disqualification to run or hold any position or office in the government.
Escudero issued the statement following the Senate public order committee investigation on the refusal of Bonifacio, Occidental Mayor Samson Dumanjug to follow his suspension order.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan suspended Dumanjug and his wife Vice Mayor Evelyn Dumanjug due to corruption charges. Police reportedly violently evicted Dumanjug from his office.
If the mayor only followed the suspension order, Escudero said there will be no “untoward incident.”
In insisting that the Miranda Rights was not read to him, Escudero said Dumanjug seems to admit that “he committed a crime.”
The senator further said the local police should not neglect their duties in implementing the laws and the legal suspension order.
He stressed any chaotic situation could have been avoided if only policemen of Bonifacio, Misamis Occidental followed the right protocol.
Escudero said there is no need to ask for the approval of PNP chief Benjamin Acorda in enforcing the suspension order since the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) also recognized the suspension of Dumanjug.
Senator Ronald Bato Dela Rosa said that to avoid tension and violence, the mayor should have heeded the order instead of holding on to his post.
However, he also admitted that a duly elected official cannot be blamed if he believes there’s a legal basis to fight for his right, duties, and responsibilities.
In the Senate hearing, Misamis Occidental Governor Henry Oaminal said they coordinated with the DILG to ensure the orderly implementation of the suspension order
He said the DILG director in the province used diplomatic ways in dealing with Dumanjug’s camp, but “nothing happened.”