The Sandiganbayan has sent out on Wednesday an arrest warrant and a hold departure order against an embattled mayor from the northern province of Cagayan.
Mayor Ignacio Taruc of Buguey town, who was slapped a 60-day preventive suspension on March 4 by the provincial board, alleged that the move was politically motivated due to his conflict with Gov. Alvaro Antonio.
The mayor has earlier accused Antonio of orchestrating the suspension through his ally, Buguey Vice Mayor Licerio Antiporda, who filed a case against him.
Antiporda, however, refuted the allegations saying the administrative case filed against the mayor stemmed from complaints from some municipal employees who alleged that Taruc refused to release their salaries.
The mayor justified his decision by saying that the five complaining municipal employees were always unavailable. Their “habitual absenteeism" according to the mayor, forced him to cancel the release of their salaries.
The mayor also maintained his previous statement that his suspension was a consequence of his criticisms and objections to Alvaro’s issuance of permits to some foreign mining firms operating in Buguey town.
The mayor has earned the governor’s ire for allegedly inciting Buguey townsfolk and some members of the clergy to stage anti-mining protest rally at the capitol compound.
A bail bond of P30,000 was recommended for Taruc’s temporary liberty
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