Palace steps in Guimaras row, lifts suspension of Vice mayor, councilor
It is officially back to work for two Buenavista town officials earlier ordered suspended by the Guimaras Provincial Board with no less than the Office of the President 'lifting' the suspension.
GAITANO
Malacañang's decision will put back to work and official circulation Buenavista Vice Mayor Herald Gregg Gagatam and Councilor Jonayreh Gaitano. However, The News Today (TNT) gathered, trouble is far from over for the duo as sources said questions will be raised on the authenticity of the Malacañang document.
Both are expected to show up in the town hall today (Monday) and insist on their official right to hold office anew.
Buenavista council holds regular session Monday afternoon. The Vice Mayor and said Councilor's seats left empty since the April "suspension."
GAGATAM
In an interview, Councilor Gaitano expressed elation over the decision made by the Palace on their case. To recall, an appeal was directly sent to Malacañang with Vice Mayor Gagatam and Councilor Gaitano over the administrative complaints lodged against them. Weeks into the in-house row blamed on heated local politics in Guimaras, the two beleaguered Buenavista officials were besieged with incessant 'attacks' in the media.
A Resolution was then passed by colleagues in the Municipal Council calling for their suspension that supposedly took effect April 17. The Office of the President thru Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs Manuel Gaite took credence on the explanation and evidences submitted by the 'suspended' town executives and ordered to "stay" the suspension.
Upon verification, TNT gathered that a copy of said Malacañang's direct order dated May 16 was furnished to the central office of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). It was not immediately clear whether same has been sent to the regional office here.
A legal and moral victory, the duo's counsel, lawyer Cornelio Panes said of the development.
"It was most unfortunate that my clients were subjected to trial by publicity and unfair treatment by fellow municipal officials however we knew from day one that justice will be served. This is just the beginning and we are bent on finishing it off to clear the unfair issues raised against them," Panes said in a statement sent to TNT.
"Vice Mayor Gagatam and Councilor Gaitano remained true public servants and will remain as such as they consider all these as part of the job when they ran for public office. The Office of the President has spoken on the matter. I hope this decision will be respected," the lawyer added.