Mayor Espina Exonerated

LIBAGON,SOUTHERN LEYETE – The Office of the Ombudsman for Eastern Visayas has dismissed the administrative complaint filed against former Libagon Mayor Rizalina Espina and Municipal Engineer Natividad Castanares by businessman Rey Calooy for lack of merit.

In its decision dated August 25, 2009 (which SLT obtained a copy of last Friday) the Ombudsman stated that the respondents had not committed Grave Misconduct nor had they Abused their Authority in denying the approval of the complainant’s business permit.

“We find no act amounting to Misconduct on the part of the respondents. Demanding the complainant comply with the requirements for the renewal of business permit is not an unlawful behavior. Refusing to renew the business permit because the complainant has yet to comply with the requirements is not failure to act in the face of an affirmative duty to act. There was therefore no element of corruption, clear intent to violate the law or flagrant disregard of established rule,” said Maria Hagad Fernandez, the Graft Investigation & Prosecuting officer.

“Neither was there Abuse of Authority for the respondents were merely implementing the law,” she concluded.

Attorney Domingo Espina who we had earlier interviewed regarding the case said he was glad the matter was finally put to rest. He said the charges were politically motivated since the complainant’s brother had planned on running for mayor in the 2010 election. (By ANTHONY KINGS)

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