BOHOL Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado yesterday urged workers of the provincial government to continue doing their jobs right while he and 68 other officials serve a six-month suspension over the illegal construction of private resorts at Chocolate Hills, a protected area.
In a series of messages posted on his Facebook page, Aumentado said he will be back.
Aumentado and the 68 other officials, including mayors, were placed under preventive suspension pending probe on the construction and operation of resorts that defaced the world famous Chocolate Hills.
The order stemmed from a complaint filed by the Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Office following the discovery of several private resorts put up at Chocolate Hills which is a protected area.
The Ombudsman said the suspension is “immediately executory” regardless of whether any of respondents file motions to challenge the order which was signed by Ombudsman Samuel Martirez last May 22.
Aumentado urged his constituents to “remain strong and stand behind this great challenge that we are facing.”
“We shouldn’t be sad because we have our Almighty to guide us and settle everything,” he said.
Aumentado told his constituents he “to continue serving, for the advancement of Bohol.”
He urged government workers in Bohol to continue doing their jobs right as he and the other officials are on preventive suspension.
He told them to keep their promise to the people to serve even during the trial that he and the other officials are facing.
Aumentado also urged Bohol residents to continue supporting the provincial government.
The Bohol provincial government, also on its Facebook page, said Aumentado “is asking his colleagues in the capitol to maintain their high standards of work while he is away for six months.”
“He (Aumentado) emphasizes their shared duty and commitment to serve the people,” the provincial government said.
“This was his request following the announcement of six-month preventive suspension, along with other 68 national and local officials over the Chocolate Hills controversy in March,” it added.
Aside from Aumentado, also suspended were Mayors Restituto Suarez of Sagbayan town; Antonino Jumawid, Batuan town; Elizabeth Pace, Catigbian; Eugeniano Ibarra, Clarin; Normal Palacio and Manuel Jayectin, Bilar; Simplicio Maestrado Jr., Sierra Bullones; Maria Katrina Lim, Calixto Garcia, and Dionisio Balite of Valencia town; and Conchita delos Reyes and Ricardo Francisco Toribio of Carmen.
Also suspended were officials of national agencies including the Department of Environment and Natural Resources — Environmental Management Bureau , Office of Civil Defense, Department of Agriculture, Department of Science and Technology, PNP, and the DENR-Protected Area Management Board.
At least 30 barangay chairpersons, local tourism officers, environment and natural resources officers, planning and development officers, and building officials were also ordered suspended.
