SP to start probe on grave abuse raps vs Iloilo mayor
Members of the 9th Iloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP) convening as a quasi-judicial body begins its probe on the administrative case filed against an Iloilo mayor.
Docketed as Administrative Case No. 2007-002, respondent official is Santa Barbara Mayor Isabelo Maquino while complainant/plaintiff is staunch political rival Larry Deatras.
Charges filed against Mayor Maquino include grave abuse of authority, dereliction of duty and dishonesty. An earlier criminal case was also filed by Deatras with the charges stemming from the now controversial construction of a gas station in Santa Barbara.
Deatras for his part filed the administrative cases as president of the Santa Barbara National Comprehensive High School Parents and Teachers Association.
Vice Governor Rolex Suplico in an order requested for Maquino's rebuttal on the charges. Yet if Deatras' plea is to be heard, he would want the SP body to recommend and decide for Maquino's dismissal from service.
Grave abuse of authority, dereliction of duty and dishonesty were allegedly committed, Deatras in his complaint said.
Such, "relative to his approval of a Special Use Permit issued to Santos Petroleum Corp. in violation of Section 30 of Ordinance No. 6-S-2000, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance of Sta. Barbara where the filling station shall be located at least 100-meter distance from the nearest schools, churches, hospitals and other similar institutions and the actual distance of the site of the gasoline station and the school fence is more or less 97 centimeters and not 97 meters as maliciously claimed by Defendant."
Since the issue became public, supporters of the mayor has come out in his defense and dismissed the charges as pure political harassments.
Mayor Maquino will be asked to submit his reply and counter-affidavit in the next 14 days.