CA upholds Ombudsman’s dismissal of Leyte mayor

TACLOBAN CITY—The Court of Appeals (CA) has dismissed a petition filed by the mayor of Palompon town in Leyte province who sought to reverse his dismissal from government service by the Office of the Ombudsman for the irregular purchase of fuel, oil and lubricants for three junked vehicles when he was vice mayor.

In an order dated Feb. 14, the appellate court’s 15th Division dismissed Mayor Ramon Oñate‘s appeal, saying it lacked enough evidence for it to overturn the antigraft body’s ruling.

The CA said it could not issue a temporary restraining order and/or a writ of preliminary injunction, as “there being no prima facie showing of a great and irreparable injury that will befall the applicants should the ancillary relief prayed for be not granted.”

The Inquirer tried to reach Oñate for his reaction through his media officers but has yet to receive a response.

But in previous interviews, Oñate has described the cases filed against him as politically motivated.

“I did not steal a single centavo from the government,” Oñate said.

Oñate filed his certificate of candidacy for reelection in this year’s midterm elections but eventually dropped his bid. He was substituted by his daughter, Dominique.

The case against Oñate stemmed from a case filed by a Ian Jay Arevalo who alleged that Oñate, then the vice mayor, and his coaccused authorized the purchase of fuel, oil and lubricants for three “unserviceable” vehicles worth P57,870.05 between January and March 2021.

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Arevalo claimed the vehicles were decommissioned since 2020 as certified by the municipal motorpool officer and the general services officer.

He described the vehicles as being “parked in the junkyard with mutilated plates and completely dilapidated.”

The Ombudsman ruled that Oñate and his accomplices were guilty of dishonesty for falsifying public documents related to the transactions and committed grave misconduct by “unlawfully using their public offices to procure benefits for themselves.”

Also found liable were Councilors Margarito Bensig Jr., Esperanza Sumalinog, Emmanuel Laurente, Consuelo Bonghanoy, Ranulfo Gaspan Sr., Jonathan Yap and Rene Camposano; and municipal legislative staff assistant Debbie Ann Dignos.