Prominent UP lawyer defends dismissal of Iloilo mayor, "Ito ang pagbabago"

Mayor Jed Mabilog, photo from adb.org

Atty Trixie Cruz-Angeles, who now serves as Presidential Communications and Operations social media strategist, explained through her Facebook account, that Iloilo City Mayor Jed Mabilog's dismissal from office was part of the change that the President promised.

Cruz-Angeles clarified that Mabilog's dismissal was caused by  his leaving the country and staying in the United States, but by a complaint filed against against him for his unlawful acts while serving as a politician.



She also stressed that since the leader's case was administrative in nature, no other administrative case could be pursued.

Atty. Trixie Cruz-Angeles, photo from Rappler

"Administrative ang kaso. Kahit patungan pa sya ng isa pang administrative case -- halimbawa, abandonment of office-hindi na po itutuloy yon dahil tinaggal na sya.

Tuloy pa rin ang plunder and perjury cases nya. Maaari pa rin syang sampahan ng kaso para sa droga. Hindi maapektuhan ng pagtanggal sa kanya sa upisina, ang kanyang mga criminal cases."

In the court of law, administrative cases are filed against officials who acted wrongfully in the exercise of their functions, while separate criminal under different grounds  may be filed against them at the same time.



"Kaya dun sa mga nagsasabing parang pinalusot sya, hinayhinay naman. Wala pa syang hatol sa ilang hinaharap na criminal cases. At hindi pa nasampa yung kaso nya sa droga kung saan may affidavit na si Serenio.

Wag unahan ng galit. Things are happening as they should. Ito ang paagbabago," she said.

Ombudsman Conchita Morales has ordered the dismissal from service of Mabilog for failing to explain an increase in his wealth of nearly P9 million within a year.

In a 13-page decision, the anti-graft body found Mabilog guilty of serious dishonesty.

He was also given the accessory penalties of forfeiture of retirement benefits, cancellation of civil service eligibility, perpetual disqualification from holding public office and a bar from taking civil service examinations.

His lawyer, Mark Piad, said that his team was not given a copy of the decision.

“We will explore the possibility of asking the Court of Appeals or Supreme Court to issue a temporary restraining order (on the implementation of the order),” Piad said.


source: Trixie Cruz-Angeles

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