In a shocking twist of fate that has sent ripples through the political landscape of Bohol, Governor Erico Aristotle Cabagnot Aumentado and some 68 other officials have been handed a six-month preventive suspension by the Office of the Ombudsman.
This decisive action stems from their alleged complicity in the contentious Captain’s Peak development, which has sparked widespread controversy.
The suspension order, bearing the signature of Special Prosecutor Edilberto Sandoval, was officially promulgated on May 20, 2024, but only reached the implicated parties on May 28, 2024.
The delay in communication has raised questions about the procedural aspects of the case.
The list of suspended officials is extensive, encompassing figures from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), various local government units (LGUs), and members of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB). Among the high-profile names are mayors from Sagbayan, Batuan, Catigbian, Clarin, Bilar, Sierra Bullones, Valencia, and Carmen, as well as vice mayors, former mayors, regional directors, and several barangay officials from the vicinity of the iconic Chocolate Hills.
In a defiant response to the suspension, Governor Aumentado addressed the media from his office, asserting that his suspension was not a consequence of graft but rather an unfortunate result of alleged negligence related to the Captain’s Peak issue.
He vehemently denied any political motivations behind the Ombudsman’s order, viewing it as a procedural step in the ongoing investigation.
With the election season looming less than a year away, Aumentado remains undeterred about the potential impact of his suspension on his political trajectory.
He made a public appearance before Capitol employees, urging them to maintain their resolve during his absence.
Rejecting any insinuation of political maneuvering, Aumentado announced plans to convene with fellow respondents to explore possible legal avenues.
As the province grapples with this upheaval, Vice Governor Dionisio Victor Balite is set to assume the role of acting governor, while Senior Board Member Tita Baja will step in as acting vice governor, ensuring continuity in governance during this period of transition.
OMBUDSMAN TO PURSUE CASE
In a news report over TV5, the Office of the Ombudsman has asserted the possession of substantial evidence against suspended Bohol Governor Aumentado and 68 others for their alleged roles in the contentious development of a resort near the iconic Chocolate Hills.
In a statement, the anti-corruption body expressed confidence in its case, citing negligence that led to unauthorized construction within the protected zone of the Chocolate Hills Natural Monument.
The developments at Captain’s Peak Garden and Resort have sparked a legal battle, highlighting the tension between development and conservation.
Aumentado, who faces a six-month suspension, voiced his disappointment with the Ombudsman’s findings but affirmed his commitment to abide by the legal process.
“It is painful that this has happened,” he remarked, reflecting on the situation that has also implicated officials from various national agencies.
The Ombudsman’s office is preparing to pursue charges of grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty, emphasizing the gravity of the allegations.
The suspension of the accused aims to ensure an unimpeded investigation and to safeguard the integrity of the evidence.
The controversy gained traction after a vlogger’s content about the resort went viral, revealing that the resort lacked necessary environmental permits and was operating without a Special Use Agreement.
MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION
The Capitol is reportedly contemplating the submission of a motion for reconsideration (MOR) in response to the preventive suspension levied on Aumentado and 68 others, in connection with the Captain’s Peak controversy.
Aumentado has labelled his suspension as “unjust,” claiming he was not afforded an opportunity to present his defense.
The Ombudsman ordered a six-month suspension for Aumentado due to his involvement in actions related to the Protected Area Management Board’s (PAMB) resolution on structures near the Chocolate Hills National Monument (CHNM), specifically those constructed at Captain’s Peak Garden and Resort in Sagbayan town.
Provincial Legal Officer Handel Lagunay stated that the MOR would be submitted within 15 days from the receipt of the suspension order from the Ombudsman.
The suspension order was promulgated by the Ombudsman on May 20, 2024, and served on May 28, 2024.
Approximately 30 barangay officials were also suspended by the Ombudsman.
Despite the suspension, Aumentado has pledged to come back stronger and does not see the suspension affecting his bid to run for re-election next year.
He continues to maintain his innocence and is prepared to face the charges against him.
BOHOL LMP
Meanwhile, the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Bohol Chapter President, Mayor Fernando Estavilla, and Vice-President, Mayor Lynn Iven Lim, have expressed their reactions to the six-month preventive suspension of Aumentado and 68 other officials, including Bohol mayors, over the controversial Captains Peak and Garden Resort issue.
During a press conference, Mayor Estavilla, who also serves as the municipal mayor of the island town of President Carlos P. Garcia (CPG), expressed his sorrow upon learning that the Bohol mayors were included in the suspension despite not being directly involved in the issue.
However, he respected the decision of the Ombudsman, acknowledging their authority in the matter.
Mayor Estavilla also conveyed his disappointment with the severity of the sanctions imposed on his fellow mayors due to the Captains Peak Issue.
He acknowledged the shortcomings of the leaders but hoped that due process was followed in the investigation.
He believes that the suspension might not be politically motivated, as it includes political opponents involved in the controversy.
Mayor Estavilla revealed plans for the LMP and Bohol mayors to organize a widespread prayer rally in every town to voice the concerns of the Boholanos affected by the Ombudsman’s preventive suspension order, which resulted from the Chocolate Hills controversy.
Mayor Lynn Iven Lim, Vice-President of the LMP, supported President Estavilla’s statements.
LMP Bohol Chapter was scheduled to meet in the coming days to issue a joint statement on the matter and to finalize plans for the prayer rally across all towns in Bohol in support of the suspended mayors.
DILG COPY
The Bohol provincial office of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has reported that it has not yet been informed by the Office of the Ombudsman about the preventive suspension of Gov. Erico Aristotle “Aris” Aumentado and several other local officials elected under its jurisdiction.
This development follows the Ombudsman’s order to place Gov. Aumentado, a minimum of eight current mayors, and numerous barangay officials under preventive suspension for a period of six months.
The DILG report indicates that the department was not notified about the Ombudsman’s decision to suspend certain Bohol officials.
Jerome Gonzalez, the Provincial Director of DILG, stated that his office has not received any correspondence from the Ombudsman concerning the suspension order.
However, he clarified that the Ombudsman has the authority to directly enforce the suspension order on the individuals involved.
He added that the Ombudsman has the option to delegate the implementation of a suspension order on a local official to the DILG.
Historically, the DILG has been the entity to enforce a suspension order on a local official, as was the case in 2019 when former Gov. Arthur Yap was put under preventive suspension for three months, which concluded at the beginning of the Covid pandemic.
Gonzalez mentioned that the Ombudsman has not instructed the DILG to enforce the suspension order on other local officials implicated in the case, particularly the barangay officials affected.
According to sources, representatives from the Office of the Ombudsman were the ones who delivered the suspension order to Gov. Aumentado on May 28, 2024. The sources revealed that four Tagalog-speaking individuals, accompanied by police officers, arrived at Gov. Aumentado’s office to serve the suspension order.