The Sandiganbayan recently suspended Sipalay City Mayor Oscar Montilla, Jr. for 90 days after allegedly delaying the implementation of a suspension order by the Office of the Ombudsman against city employees Evangeline Seneres, Eva Sabusap, Fernando Balhin, Noel Villanueva, and Renato Manilla.

With the mayor under indictment by the Ombudsman since January 2017, for violations of Section 3(e) of RA 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, which bars officials from “giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference,” the court cited Section 13 of the said law, which states any public official under criminal prosecution for bribery is to be suspended.

According to the court, Montilla “gave unwarranted benefit and advantage to Seneres, et al. by delaying for years, without legal basis, the implementation of the said suspension.”

In response, the mayor said he will abide by the decision but said, with regard to the said employees, he “pitied” them.

He added, a motion for reconsideration was filed with the Ombudsman.

“It took some time for the Office of the Ombudsman to act,” Montilla explained and noted they were eventually suspended after the motion was denied.

His sister, Vice Mayor Maria Gina M. Lizares, will assume his post./DGB, WDJ