By BOY RYAN B. ZABAL
KALIBO, Aklan — Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) member Plaridel Morania reminded his colleagues not to take any personal interest in the administrative case filed against New Washington Mayor Edgar Peralta.
The SP’s investigation on the complaint took a twist when Morania and colleague Rodson Mayor had heated exchanges at the plenary session and in radio interviews.
“Mayor is trying to preempt Peralta’s 90-day suspension when we have yet to receive the answer of the mayor,” Morania, the investigating committee chair, said.
On Monday, the SP officially asked Peralta to respond to the complaint filed by businessman Jonathan Salvador of Brgy. Polo, New Washington. Salvador accused Peralta of violating Section 60 of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code.
Mayor filed a motion for reconsideration relative to the case, but the investigating committee said the action was moot and academic.
“Why are you filing a motion for reconsideration [on behalf] of Peralta? What is your interest in this case,” Morania asked Mayor.
“Owa ta ako ga hambae nga pinartido ro pag-imbestiga ku kaso. I assure you na tatapon namon ngara ro kaso. If they could substantiate the evidence in an administrative case, they will win the case,” Morania said.
He added: “Let the investigating committee do its job. Let us maintain neutrality and impartiality.”
Mayor and Peralta are political allies. Majority of SP members, including Morania, are allied with the administration.
Morania said he has no personal interest in the case but was “duly elected by the people to act as investigating judge.”
He stressed that Mayor, “as one of the sitting judges … must maintain impartiality throughout the proceedings, and [filing] motions on behalf of the parties [involved] must be avoided.”
Morania said the administrative case was thoroughly evaluated by the investigating committee and, before that, by the committees on rules, laws and ordinances, and on good governance and public accountability.
Meanwhile, he said the dissenting opinion of SP member Harry Sucgang was “merely an expression of his disagreement with the decision of the majority members of the investigating committee.”
A similar case was filed by Salvador against Peralta before the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas. (Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
