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CLO awaits Treñas' decision on Sonalan case

By Maricar M. Calubiran.

City Legal Office (CLO) chief Edgar Gil said they are ready to file the criminal and administrative charges against their colleague Atty. Reynaldo Sonalan however Mayor Jerry Treñas still has the last say.

Gil said, if ever they push through with the filing of charges against Sonalan, it should be Treñas who will act as the complainant.

Sonalan was found negligent in handling the power pilferage case against former city treasurer Romeo Manikan which eventually caused the dismissal of the case.

Treñas was not available at press time for comment in relation to Gil’s proposal.

In earlier interview, the chief executive said he will study the recommendation of the City Legal Office before he decides on it.

Earlier, the three-man fact finding team of the City Legal Office recommended the filing of administrative charges for gross negligence and grave misconduct under the Revised Administrative Code as well as the criminal charges under Article 209 of the Revised Penal Code against Sonalan.

Article 209 is the betrayal of trust by an attorney or revelation of secrets. If evidence warrants, Sonalan could be removed from the government service and he may also lose all his benefits.

Gil said they are also contemplating of filing administrative case against Sonalan before the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

He said the city will waive the conduct of further investigation against Sonalan to pave way for the CSC to conduct its own probe on whatever lapses Sonalan has committed during the trial of Manikan’s case.

The city legal chief added that Sonalan is still “presumed innocent until found guilty.” “Any suspect is given his day in court,” he said.