Tagudin Mayor Roque Verzosa Jr. and Sangguniang Bayan member Arthur Chua were suspended by the 12-member Sangunniang Panlalawigan of Ilocos Sur for two months for refusing to acknowledge quarry permits issued by the Environment department and the provincial government.
Noreen Sibayan, Gemma Tiu, Joel Pastores and Provincial Environment Officer Raymund Sinay sought the officials’ suspension before the provincial board because they believed the town mayor and SB member committed grave misconduct, gross insubordination, abuse of authority and conduct unbecoming of public officials.
After the complaint was filed against the two, the Sangguniang Bayan of Tagudin issued a resolution directing an immediate halt to quarry operations along rivers in the town.
However, the provincial board turned down the resolution, seeing it as a move to get back at the complainants.
With a vote of 12-0, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved Resolution No. XVI Series of 2016 in July endorsing the suspension of the two, saying “there is a great probability that the continuance in office of the respondents could influence any witnesses or pose a threat to the safety and integrity of the records and other evidence, hence it merits suspension.”
Ilocos Sur Gov. Ryan Luis Singson ordered Mayor Verzosa and SB member Chua’s suspension Wednesday after receiving the recommendation of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
“Under the Local Government Code, it is the province that has the authority to cancel or revoke the quarry permits that have been legally issued and not the municipal mayor,” Gov. Singson said, adding Mayor Verzosa clearly abused his power by stopping quarry operations.
“It seems that they are bullying the provincial government, so we have to act on this in a legal forum to remind Mayor Verzosa the scope of his powers as local chief executive.”
The post Ilocos Sur Suspends Town Mayor for Blocking Quarrying appeared first on The Philippine Star.
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