CEBU CITY—Danao City Mayor Ramon “Nito” D. Durano III won another victory in his fight against a three-month suspension ordered by the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.
The Court of Appeals in Manila has converted the 60-day temporary restraining order (TRO) the CA Special 17th Division earlier issued into a writ of preliminary injunction.
The CA also denied the Ombudsman’s move to recall the TRO and opposition to the preliminary injunction.
The CA Resolution dated June 5, 2017 was signed by Associate Justice and Chairman Romeo Barza with the concurrence of Associate Justices Socorro Inting and Maria Filomena Singh. The TRO was granted on April 3, 2017 upon the petitioner’s filing of bond in the amount of P100,000.
“Accordingly, the Ombudsman, the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government, and any of their officers are enjoined from implementing the assailed Decision of the Office of the Ombudsman dated June 22, 2016,” read the resolution.
The case stemmed from the complaints of Orlando Dagatan Jr., Amabella Gomez, Cecilia Lawas, Celso Aylwin Manulat, Leo Enriquez, Conchita Batuto and Maria Sofielyn Camance.
They were appointed during the term of Durano’s brother and former Mayor Ramon “Boy” D. Durano Jr. from 2010 to 2013.
The appointments of these personnel were recalled on July 1, 2013 by Nito, claiming the appointments of the complainants did not undergo the screening process, supposedly done by the Personnel Selection Board, as mandated under a City Council resolution.