Nueva Ecija gov assails Ombudsman’s suspension order
CABANATUAN CITY—Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali has rejected allegations of misconduct following the Office of the Ombudsman’s order suspending him for one year without pay over the alleged illegal issuance of quarrying permits.
“I respect the legal process, but I must make it clear that this case does not involve any criminal charge nor any issue of corruption, theft or wrongdoing,” Umali said in a statement on Sunday.
According to Umali, the Ombudsman’s ruling is “purely a matter of legal interpretation and implementation of the law regarding the issuance of CSG (commercial sand and gravel) permits.”
In its 29-page decision, the Ombudsman found “substantial evidence” that Umali was “guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service and simple misconduct.”
Congressional inquiry
The case stemmed from the approval of 205 CSG permits issued between January 2014 and June 2016 without the required environmental compliance certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Instead of requiring ECCs, the Ombudsman said Umali and his wife, former governor Czarina Umali, who approved quarry permits from 2016 to 2018, merely asked permit applicants to secure local environmental clearance certificates.
The anti-graft body said this practice violated the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, its implementing rules, and Presidential Decree 1856.
The complaint also cited a 2018 House of Representatives inquiry, which concluded that the Umali couple had granted quarrying permits to unqualified applicants.
While the Ombudsman dismissed charges against Czarina Umali and several DENR officials, it held Aurelio Umali administratively liable under the Ombudsman Act of 1989.
Gov. Umali maintained the case was “politically motivated,” pointing to the complainant’s alleged ties to a declared political rival.
The governor also argued the case was meant to derail his administration’s programs. INQ
“This shows that the case is not about genuine public service concerns but rather about partisan interests aimed at discrediting me and derailing the programs of the provincial government that have been serving our people, particularly our farmers.”
The governor said he has filed a motion for reconsideration, which remains pending. “We will continue to go through the proper legal process because we firmly believe in truth and justice.”
He added: “Let me assure the people of Nueva Ecija: I will not back down. My focus remains on serving you and sustaining the programs that uplift the lives of Novo Ecijanos.”
