BACOLOD City – The Office of the Ombudsman dismissed a criminal charge filed against Mayor Evelio “Bing” Leonardia in relation to late lawyer Allan Zamora’s appointment as city legal officer several years ago.
The case stemmed from the complaint that Sarah Theresa Esguerra filed, questioning the co-terminus appointments of Zamora from July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2007 and July 1, 2007 to March 5, 2009.
According to Esguerra, Leonardia violated the law when he reinstated Zamora as city legal officer even after the Civil Service Commission (CSC) invalidated the latter’s appointment for failing to meet the residency requirement of the position.
But the Ombdusman found no probable cause to indict Leonardia.
The mayor was able to prove that only one of Zamora’s two appointments was invalidated by the CSC, the Ombudsman said.
It added that Zamora has also contested the CSC decision before the Court of Appeals, which issued a temporary restraining order (TRO).
According to the Ombudsman, the CSC decision became “moot and academic” when Zamora’s first appointment expired on June 30, 2007 when the TRO was still in effect.
The Ombudsman said Zamora was entitled to government salaries and benefits being the de facto city legal officer of Bacolod.
Meanwhile, Leonardia said Esguerra has been filing “unwarranted cases” against him in the past years.
He said these were “harassment cases.”
The mayor added that Esguerra is a “known supporter and executive assistant” of former mayor Monico Puentevella, his political enemy.
Panay News was still reaching Esguerra for comment as of press time./PN
