By BOY RYAN B. ZABAL
KALIBO, Aklan — Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) member Rodson Mayor “offered to quit” if the administrative complaint filed against New Washington Mayor Edgar Peralta is found “sufficient in form and substance.”
In a radio interview, Mayor said that if the SP investigating committee headed by Board member Plaridel Morania finds the complaint valid, he will resign.
Aside from being a political ally of the New Washington mayor, Mayor did not give any other reason behind his plan.
However, if the committee rules out the complaint, Mayor believes the SP members should publicly apologize to Peralta.
Members of the investigating committee are SP members Ramon Gelito, Esel Flores, Harry Sucgang and Apolinar Cleope.
Engr. Jonathan Salvador filed with the SP an administrative complaint against Peralta for alleged abuse of authority under Section 60 of Republic Act (RA) 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991.
Salvador, who owns a shipyard, restaurant and river-cruising business in Brgy. Polo, New Washington, was charged by the municipal government for operating without business permit, mayor’s permit and environmental compliance certificate in April last year.
Last October, the Sangguniang Bayan of New Washington authorized Peralta to issue and carry out a closure order for Salvador’s Metallica Shipyard.
It also authorized the mayor to revoke the zoning clearances and business clearance of the Dumaguit-Batan Ferries Corp. and the Metallica Marine Consultancy and Fabrication Services for “gross misrepresentation of the real nature of their business operation as that of the Yard Bar and Restaurant and the Metallica Shipyard.”
Salvador denied all the allegations.
Under Section 63 of RA 7160, the governor may apply preventive suspension against the respondent if the latter is an elected official of a component city or municipality. (Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
