Sandiganbayan orders suspension of Pampanga mayor over misuse of funds

THE Sandiganbayan ordered the suspension of Guagua, Pampanga Mayor Dante D. Torres for 90 days for illegal use of public funds worth P2.7 million.

Mr. Torres reportedly utilized the fund intended for Aurelio Tolentino Frontage area to instead rehabilitate a municipal park.

The anti-graft court justified “the authority of the Sandiganbayan to order the preventive suspension of an incumbent public official has both legal and jurisprudential support.  It would appear, indeed, to be a ministerial duty of the court to issue an order of suspension upon determination of the validity of the Information filed before it.” — Charmaine A. Tadalan