Ombudsman orders 3-month suspension vs. Tawi-Tawi town exec for abuse of authority

Ombudsman orders 3-month suspension vs. Tawi-Tawi town exec for abuse of authority (Photo: Office of the Ombudsman Philippines/ Facebook)

MANILA—The Office of the Ombudsman (Ombudsman) has ordered a three-month suspension against an executive of a town in Tawi-Tawi for abuse of authority.

This after the Ombudsman found former Sibutu, Tawi-Tawi officer-in-charge (OIC) Mayor Kuyoh Pajiji guilty of abuse of authority for his refusal to implement Civil Service Commission (CSC) resolutions reinstating three municipal employees whom he terminated in 2006 without valid justification.

In a nine-page ruling, the Ombudsman said the respondent has abused his authority when he did not heed the CSC-ARMM’s (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) resolutions dated Aug. 26, 2011 and Jan. 19, 2012, and the CSC letter dated Oct. 25, 2012, all of which have become final and executory, without sufficient justification.

As OIC-Mayor, “he is mandated to ensure that all officers, including himself, faithfully discharge their duties and functions as directed by the Local Government Code,” the Ombudsman added.

The Ombudsman imposed upon Pajiji a three-month suspension without pay, which is convertible into a fine in an amount equivalent to respondent’s salary for three months in case of his separation from service.