TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines – Reinstated Mayor Jefferson Soriano said he need no more suspension nor dismissal after “what he went through.”
Soriano, who retook his oath of office as Mayor, told his supporters he will continue where he has left seven months ago after his dismissal. (READ: CA division reinstates Tuguegarao mayor Soriano)
“I must admit, my family suffered a lot,” he told the city employees and other supporters who trooped to the city hall as early as 7:30 in the morning to share the event.
The former police General hinted on some supporters who have lose hope he will ever return as city Mayor but admitted he learned a lot from the experience.
He said that what happened is a personal wake up that he should love Tuguegarao more than ever.
“I hope not to receive suspension orders again,” he said.
Vice-Mayor Bienvenido De Guzman, Jr. said Soriano deserve to be back moments before Soriano spoke to his audience.
“I’m the happiest man today. Mayor Soriano deserves to be back,” De Guzman who will now go back to his former position as Vice-Mayor, said he will always be happy as such.
Meanwhile, Jefferson “BJ” Soriano, Jr. in a separate interview said the family is happy with the turn of events.
“Not that he was not trying to talk about it but more of protecting us from being affected,” he told Northern Forum and added the family tended to separate politics from family life.
Reinstated
Soriano took oath before Judge Maita Deray Israel at the Tuguegarao City Hall on Wednesday, September 6. There, he announced the CA decision overturning the Ombudsman’s dismissal order in January.
In a copy presented to reporters, the CA decision said Soriano should only be meted with three months suspension, instead of dismissal from service.
The Ombudsman said Soriano committed grave abuse of authority when he gave a provisional permit to operate to a parking terminal without the approval of the city council.
The appellate court, however, disagreed saying the mayor only committed simple misconduct, a violation that should be meted with penalty of 90 days suspension. Benjie De Yro/Northernforum.net
