Catanduanes Governor Joseph Cua (Photo from his Facebook page)
LEGAZPI CITY – Catanduanes Governor Joseph Cua is set to return to his post on Thursday after serving his one-year suspension over an administrative case slapped against him by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2019.
This was confirmed by Uldarico Razal, provincial director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), in an interview on Tuesday.
Razal said Cua sought clearance from the DILG that would allow him to return to the office.
Last January, Cua installed himself as governor of the province, asserting that he had completed serving his suspension order but his self-reinstatement was blocked by DILG Secretary Eduardo Año.
Año said the department did not recognize Cua’s assumption of office and ordered him to vacate the post pending the resolution of his case with the Office of the Ombudsman.
Lawyer Anthony Nuyda, DILG regional director, advised Cua “not to assume earlier than April 30 this year,” citing article 13 of the Civil Code of the Philippines that stipulates his 365-day suspension period from May 1, 2019 until April 29, 2020.
Cua, in a letter to Nuyda last Monday, said: “I would like to insist the date of my resumption to office shall be upon the completion of service of the suspension order which is one year or April 29 as I would like to live up to the same mandate by the people.”
“I would like to reiterate, as always, that in good faith I am for critical collaborations and partnership so that I can be a better steward of the people’s welfare as we share in the steadfast vision for a better social, economic and political climate in this part of the country,” he added.
The administrative case against Cua stemmed from a complaint filed by private citizen Rey Mendez in 2018 for alleged abuse of authority, conduct prejudicial to the interest of public service, dishonesty, and grave misconduct.
In his complaint, Mendez said Cua allowed a construction firm to use a vacant government lot without authority from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. (PNA)
