by Gemi Formaran February 9, 2021 Mayor Celso Oliver Dator (Photo from his FB Acc...
February 9, 2021
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| Mayor Celso Oliver Dator (Photo from his FB Account) |
LUCENA CITY - The Sandiganbayan has cleared a Quezon town mayor of Anti- Graft and Corrupt Practices Act charges filed against him for appointing her sister to the position of municipal administrator.
In the decision dated February 5, the Anti- Graft Court's Fourth Division acquitted Lucban, Quezon Mayor Celso Oliver Dator of the charges.
"For failure of the prosecution to meet the required quantum of evidence to ascribe criminal liability on the part of the accused Dator, it is the duty of the court to acquit him of the crime charged against him", the decision penned by Associate Justice Lorifel Lacap Pahimna, stated.
The case stemmed from the March 1, 2014 order of Dator appointing her sister Maria Lyncelle Macandile as Chief Administrative Officer and Municipal Administrator.
Former Lucban mayor and now Vice- Mayor Moises Villaseñor who filed the charges alleged that Macandile failed to meet the qualifications for the position and that Dator has clearly violated the Anti- Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and that he has committed grave abuse of authority.
In his defense, through his counsel Atty. Vitaliano Aguirre, Dator clarified that her sister Macandile is holder of a bachelor's degree in Nursing and passed the Philippine Nursing Licensure Examination conducted by Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and is thus, covered by Civil Service Eligibility granted under Republic Act 1080.
Dator also said that Macandile's profession, work experience, learnings from various semnars and trainings qualified and equipped her to perform duties and functions as Municipal Administrator.
He said that based on the evaluation of Human Resource Office as well as the recommendations of the Labor Committee of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Quezon and the Provincial Attorney, Macandile hasb all the qualifications for the position.
With Dator's acquittal of the charges, the court also lifted the hold departure order it issued against the mayor.
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