• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
La Castellana Councilor Donato “Natnat” Dumaguit, who is facing charges for large-scale estafa after being linked to a police recruitment scam, is facing possible expulsion from the Sangguniang Bayan for his unexplained absences in the regular sessions.
Councilor Leonardo Bacquian, chairperson of the committee on rules, yesterday said that they will hold a special session this coming Monday to pass a resolution recommending the expulsion of Dumaguit from the municipal council, to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
This was after the Sangguniang Bayan failed to muster two-thirds votes during its regular session yesterday to expel Dumaguit due to a series of unexplained absences.
It was earlier reported that Dumaguit fears for his life.
Bacquian said that the Provincial Legal Office cited the Local Government Code, which provides that a member of the municipal council who commits at least three successive unexplained absences in the regular session, can be expelled.
Section 50, which is the Internal Rules of Procedure of the municipal/city council, states that “the discipline of members for disorderly behavior and absences without justifiable cause for four consecutive sessions, for which they may be censored, reprimanded or excluded from the session, suspended for not more than 60 days or expelled; provided that the penalty of suspension or expulsion shall require the concurrence of at least two-third votes of the Sanggunian members.”
Dumaguit had been skipping the sessions after some 43 complainants accused him of allegedly mulcting money from them, in exchange for an assured slot in the Philippine National Police that never materialized.
Bacquian said that Dumaguit’s absences have adversely affected the function of the municipal council as his signature is needed on pertinent documents.
He added that they have given Dumaguit ample notice and time to hear his side, but to no avail.
“We have no choice but to vote for his expulsion. We cannot allow that public service will be further hindered by his absences,” Bacquian said. | GB
