Acting Vice Governor Venzencio Arcamo is set to lead the Provincial Board’s regular session today following the suspension of elected Vice Gov. Dionisio Balite.
Arcamo took over the province’s second highest government post after Balite was ordered suspended for 9 months due to an administrative complaint filed by the Field Investigation Office (FIO) of the Ombudsman for alleged irregularities in the procurement of a backhoe in 2006 and several pieces of heavy equipment in 2009.
Arcamo, an elected PB Member, became the vice governor at acting capacity starting May 16 after the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) imposed the suspension against Balite and several other officials.
The acting vice governor has also been tasked to sign documents of the PB such as vouchers for employees.
Other PB members are expected to attend today’s regular session at the Capitol except for Philippine Councilor’s League (PCL) Bohol president BM Gloria Gementiza.
Gementiza flew to Aklan for the PCL Regional Assembly in Boracay Island.
After Balite’s suspension, only 11 PB legislators remained in their current posts including ex-officio board members Gementiza and Liga ng mga Barangay president Romulo Cepedoza.
Two other elected officials, vice mayors of Maribojoc and Loay, Jose R. Veloso and Brigido Z. Imboy, respectively, also started serving 9-month suspensions without pay in compliance with the Ombudsman decision on November 24, 2015 approved by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales on January 16, 2017.
Balite, Veloso amd Imboy were members of the PB in 2006.
Also included in the suspension order to be implemented by the DILG were 2009 Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) members, now Provincial Administrator Alfonso R. Damalerio ll and Executive Assistant for Health Cesar Tomas M. Lopez.
The Ombudsman also directed Governor Edgar M. Chatto to implement the suspension order against Abraham D. Clarin, Head of the Provincial Motorpool and Laura Saramosing-Boloyos, Supply Officer lV, all members of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) in 2006 and 2009.
READ: VG Balite, 2 vice mayors, prov’l admin suspended
Four other officials who are now separated from the service and the suspension order can no longer be enforced, former Vice Governor Concepcion Lim, former Board Members Felix Uy and Godofreda Tirol and retired Administrative Officer Felix Mejorada, will be fined an amount equivalent to their salary for six months payable to the Office of the Ombudsman. (Rey Tutas)