Tupas nixes talks of his son running for governor
Governor Niel Tupas Sr.
Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas Sr. dismissed talks that his son, Barotac Nuevo Mayor Raul Tupas, will be running in lieu of him, because of the uncertainty of his status during the May elections.
Tupas yesterday said he will run for re-election following the Court of Appeals (CA) decision barring the implementation of the Ombudsman order to dismiss him from office for graft.
The governor said he will run for his third and last term while his son will also run for re-election for mayor. Another son, board member Niel Tupas Sr. will run for congressman of Iloilo's fifth congressional district.
Tupas said the CA decision would set a precedent that would benefit other elected officials facing suspension or dismissal orders from the Ombudsman.
The CA last Friday issued a preliminary injunction barring the implementation of the orders of the Ombudsman and the Department of Interior and Local Government against Tupas and provincial board members Domingo Oso Jr. and Cecilia Capadosa.
The appellate court had said that the dismissal orders were not immediately executory and that the three dismissed officials were deprived of due process. It said the Ombudsman "acted with grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or in excess of jurisdiction."
But Tupas said they will pursue administrative cases against officials and policemen involved in the armed assault of the Iloilo provincial capitol last January 17.
Around 200 fully armed policemen forcibly entered the capitol to enforce the dismissal order against Tupas and the two provincial members. The assault was stopped after the CA in Cebu City issued a 60-day temporary restraining order.
The Ombudsman and Commission on Human Rights have investigated the incident to determine any liabilities of policemen and other officials. The two agencies have not released their reports.
Iloilo Vice Gov Roberto Armada said they will question the order of the CA by filing a motion for reconsideration or a petition for certiorari before the Supreme Court.
"It's not yet over contrary to what they (Tupas camp) are saying," Armada said in a telephone interview.