Umali suspend by OMBUDSMAN

CABANATUAN City – (UPDATE) Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali who was suspended from the Service Without Pay for One Year by the Ombudsman filed a motion for consideration.

“I have already filed a Motion for Reconsideration, which is now pending resolution. We will continue to go through the proper legal process because we firmly believe in truth and justice. said in his statement shown at the social media account.

The suspension ordered was approved on June 19, but only made public over the weekend by the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB).

Signed by the Ombudsman’s graft officer III Leilani Tagulao Marquez, Pilarita Lapitan,  assistant Ombudsman and by then Ombudsman Samuel Martires through Deputy Ombudsman Dante Vargas.

Umali was found guilty on administrative complaints for irregular issuance of 205 quarry permits without the required Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).

The province governor is violating the Republic Act 6770 Section 25 (2),  Act of 1989, and Section 10 (b), Rule III of Administrative Order No. 7 on the Rules of Procedure by the Ombudsman.

While Umali’s act from issuing the commercial sand at gravel permits (CSGPs) from 2014 to 2016 was neither motivated by a premeditated, obstinate, or intentional purpose, his acts still sufficiently constitute the offenses of Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service and Simple Misconduct, the OMB said.

The complaints also stated that the provincial government was also remiss in remitting the shares of the taxes to the local government units (LGUs) and to ensure the enforcement and compliance with all laws, rules, and regulations within his jurisdiction

The Ombudsman cited a report of the House committee on good government and public accountability, which conducted hearings on quarry operations in Nueva Ecija

The graft court, meanwhile, the complaints against the Umali’s wife Czarina “Cherry” Umali,  Wilfredo M. Pangilinan, provincial environment officer, Danilo Uykieng, regional director of mines and geosciences bureau and its officers  Lope  Carino Jr., Samuel Paragas, and Alilo Ensomo Jr. were ordered dismissed by the Ombudsman.

The  case were filed by Roberto Duldulao who said that 205 (CSGPs) were issued to unqualified groups without the required ECC from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB).

On May 22, 2024,  The OMB has also ordered the preventive suspension for a period of six month against Umali in connection with the same administrative complaint.