Davao del Sur vice-mayor suspended for neglect of duty

The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the six-month suspension of a vice-mayor in Davao del Sur for simple neglect of duty.

The Ombudsman also ordered the filing of an information against Vice Mayor Edwin Reyes of Bansalan town for violation of Section 5(a) of RA 6713, otherwise known the "Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees."

The Ombudsman said that Reyes' case arose from his unjustified refusal to pay the monetary claims of Junelan Mantica, a former utility worker of the municipality who died in 2014, when he was the town mayor.

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) had ruled that dropping Mantica from the roster of utility workers was improper.

With this ruling, the CSC ordered Reyes to pay back wages to Mantica's family.

The Ombudsman said Reyes also violated Section 5(a) of RA 6713 when he ignored several letters of Mantica's family appealing him to promptly implement the CSC's decision.

Under Section 5(a) of R.A. No. 6713, public officials are required to respond to letters, telegrams, or other means of communication sent by the public within 15 working days from receipt, indicating the action taken on the request. —ALG, GMA News