Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib has filed counter charges against 15 individuals who filed a case against him that led to his suspension for one month.

Jubahib filed perjury charges against 15 people before the Tagum City Prosecutor’s Office on Monday, July 15, 2024, in connection with the power issue involving the Northern Development Cooperative (NORDECO).

The respondents were responsible in the filing of the case against the governor before the Office of the President.

Malacañang suspended Jubahib preventively for two months on April 11, 2024, in a separate administrative complaint for alleged grave abuse of authority.

After the 60-day preventive suspension was over, Jubahib received another suspension order for 30 days on June 7, for allegedly supporting a protest rally against NORDECO.

Among the 15 charged is Diahn Semic, the vice president of the Coalition Against Privatization of Electric Cooperatives (CAPED), who filed a complaint against the governor for allegedly supporting a rally against NORDECO using the resources of the provincial government, something that the governor denied.

Jubahib’s legal counsel, Atty. Israelito Torreon, said they found out that the complainants allegedly lied when they said that no similar case was filed in another forum.

“All complaints need certification and verification portions of the verification is a declaration of the part of the complainant that he has not filed any similar case with other offices he has to inform that there is a pending case but Semic did not do that that is a violation of the law,” Torreon said.

Jubahib returned to office on July 8.

“Nakabalik ko nagpasalamat ko sa tanang prayers kini answered prayers ning nahitabo nakabalik ko nakita man nato sa atong suspension ga gipanaig saako dili man ni corruption case ang akong pagsuspend tungod man sa akong paglaban sa davao del norte sa dugay ng problema nga gibati sa katawhan tungod sa kuryente,” Jubahib said.

Jubahib said the fight for better and quality power service in the province will continue.

“Hanggat hindi makamit ng taumbayan ng Davao del Norte ang magandang serbisyo ng kuryente at murang bayaran na matagal ng hinangad ng mga kunsumante especial distrito uno hanggang Samal ay di po tayo hihinto,” the governor added.

GMA Regional TV One Mindanao is reaching out to NORDECO for comment, as of this posting.