BACOLOD City – A block-time radio broadcaster has accused Mayor Evelio “Bing” Leonardia of being not truthful in this certificate of candidacy.
Edgar Cadagat filed before the Commission on Elections a petition seeking to disqualify Leonardia from seeking another term during the May 2019 midterm elections.
According to Cadagat, Leonardia wrote “no” as answer to Question 22 in the COC, “Have you ever been found liable for an offense which carries with it the accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification to hold public office which has become final and executory?”
But it was “public knowledge” that Leonardia was found guilty of grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty – administrative offenses – and was dismissed from the service, Cadagat said in the petition he filed on Nov. 14.
Accessory penalties that came with Leonardia’s dismissal were forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification from holding public office, cancellation of civil service eligibility, and prohibition from taking civil service examinations, according to Cadagat, citing an Office of the Ombudsman joint resolution dated Dec. 2, 2016.
Leonardia described the petition as “black propaganda.”
One of his legal counsels, Councilor Renecito Novero, said Cadagat’s petition had “no factual and legal bases,” pointing out that Leonardia had not been dismissed from the service.
That Ombudsman joint resolution Cadagat cited had already been reversed as the Court of Appeals acquitted Leonardia, said Novero./PN
