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Palawan mayoral row drags on

Lucilo Bayron

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY鈥擳he Office of the Ombudsman has reversed its decision clearing Puerto Princesa City Mayor Lucilo Bayron of grave misconduct and serious dishonesty charges, paving the way for the latter鈥檚 dismissal from office for a second time in his current term.

In a 10-page ruling obtained by the Inquirer from sources at City Hall, the Ombudsman reversed its decision issued on June 23, which allowed Bayron鈥檚 reinstatement as mayor by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The latest decision, penned by Assistant Ombudsman Jennifer Jardin-Manalili, was approved by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales on July 11. The ruling is expected to be forwarded to the DILG for implementation.

The ruling was a resolution of the motion for reconsideration filed by complainant Aldrin Madreo after the Ombudsman allowed Bayron鈥檚 reinstatement.

Bayron was first dismissed by the Ombudsman in December last year after finding him and his son, Karl, guilty of 鈥渟erious dishonesty鈥 for failing to declare their kinship in the employment contract of the young Bayron at City Hall.

In its latest decision, the Ombudsman upheld Madreo鈥檚 assertion that it had no more jurisdiction over Bayron鈥檚 case when it ruled in his favor. The Ombudsman noted that Bayron abandoned his appeal in favor of seeking a temporary restraining order (TRO) and a reversal ruling from the Court of Appeals (CA).

鈥淭his office finds that it had lost jurisdiction over the administrative case against respondent Lucilo [Bayron] upon the abandonment of his motion for reconsideration before this office and the perfection on [Feb. 2] of his appeal with the CA,鈥 the ruling stated.

The same ruling said its previous decision downgrading Bayron鈥檚 liability to 鈥渟imple dishonesty鈥 and reducing its penalty from permanent disqualification to a three-month suspension was 鈥渧acated and set aside for having been rendered without jurisdiction.鈥

At City Hall, officials said they were awaiting instructions from the DILG regarding the turnover of Bayron鈥檚 post to Vice Mayor Luis Marcaida III.

Marcaida assumed the mayor鈥檚 post when Bayron was dismissed in January. Marcaida served as mayor for four months before the Ombudsman reversed its decision in June.

Rey Maranan, city DILG director, said his office had yet to receive a copy of the Ombudsman鈥檚 latest ruling or any directive from the DILG central office ousting Bayron.

Marcaida, who had severed his political ties with Bayron, had engaged Bayron supporters in a word war following reports of the Ombudsman鈥檚 decision.

He told reporters on Wednesday that he would undertake a 鈥渕ajor revamp鈥 of senior positions at City Hall once he reassumed the post.

Richard Ligad, city information officer and Bayron鈥檚 spokesperson, said the mayor would abide by the Ombudsman鈥檚 ruling.

鈥淲e are governed by the DILG and we will follow whatever their instructions are,鈥 Ligad said.

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