BORACAY – Mayor Ciceron Cawaling of Malay, Aklan was dismissed yesterday, just hours after he returned to his post from a six-month preventive suspension.
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) provincial office served the dismissal order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman in relation to the administrative complaint filed against Cawaling and 16 other Aklan officials in June last year over Boracay’s environmental woes.
Aside from Cawaling, Municipal Licensing Division head Jen Salsona was also sacked. They were found guilty of grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, conduct unbecoming of a public official, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
The dismissal came with forfeiture of retirement benefits and disqualification for re-employment in government office.
Vice Mayor Abram Sualog already took oath as Malay mayor yesterday.
On the other hand, the Ombudsman dismissed for lack of substantial evidence the administrative charge against Gov. Florencio Miraflores, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Valentin Talabero, Sangguniang Bayan members Natalie Cawaling-Paderes, Jupiter Aelred Gallenero, Frolibar Bautista, Lloyd Maming, Dalidig Sumndad, Maylyn Aguirre-Graf, Danilo Delos Santos, and Dante Pagsuguiron, Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer Edgardo Sancho, and barangay officials Hector Casidsid, Chona Gabay and Lilibeth Sacapaño.
The countercharges for serious dishonesty, grave misconduct and oppression against complainant DILG undersecretary Epimaco Densing III were also dismissed for lack of merit.
Densing filed the complaint against the Aklan officials for allowing the illegal operation of some businesses in Boracay without mayor’s permit, allowing structures in no-build zones such as wetlands, tolerating violations of the easement rules, issuing mayor’s permit without Fire Safety Inspection Certificate from the Bureau of Fire Protection, and other similar violations of laws and regulations. (With a report from Jun Aguirre/PN)
