GUIUAN, Eastern Samar- The former mayor of this town, Analiza Gonzales Kwan, insisted that the suspension of her brother as the mayor of the town is not legally binding.
Thus, Christopher Sheen Gonzales will continue on his congressional bid for the lone district of the province.
“He will continue on his congressional bid. In fact, he’s been going around the province; a proof that he is not distracted on the preventive suspension order issued against him by the Ombudsman,” Gonzales Kwan said.
On Sunday (March 17), Gonzales Kwan faced with members of various organizations based in Guiuan to personally explain to them on the ‘real situation’ and why they should not believe on rumors that her younger brother had already gave up on his congressional bid.
“It’s purely political harassment. And that is the real truth. They are saying that Sheen has already surrendered on his quest to become the next congressman of Eastern Samar. That is far from the truth,” she said.
“He will never give up because he is running to help our people; our dear province of Eastern Samar,” the former mayor, who is seeking for the same post in the May 13 elections, added.
Mayor Gonzales, who is on his second term, was preventively suspended for 60 days by the Ombudsman on Feb.12 for grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, among others.
But the mayor, through his lawyers, insisted that the decision of the Ombudsman, which resulted for the Department of Interior and Local Government to ask him to step down, has no merit.
Mayor Gonzales said that based on the complaint filed against him, the Ombudsman found him to be administratively and not criminally liable.
Thus, for him to be suspended, there should be an approval from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) considering that the suspension order was issued within the election period already.
“The administrative character of the complaint…was for grave abuse of authority, grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty and violation of RA 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Government Officials and Employees,” Gonzales said on his letter addressed to Interior Sec. Eduardo Año.
He is seeking for his suspension ordered be revoked unless the Comelec has given its order.
The vice mayor of the town, Susana Lourdes Gaylon, assumed the post as acting mayor on March 13. She is running for mayor against Gonzales Kwan who served as mayor for nine years of Guiuan.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
