NEWSFLASH

KALINGA GOVERNOR SUSPENDED FOR DISHONESTY

Quezon City, Jan. 14, 2000 - Kalinga Gov. Dominador T. Belac has been suspended for six months after the Department of Interior and Local Government found him guilty of dishonesty, in the purchase of a luxury vehicle using falsified documents.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Alfredo S. Lim said the suspension of Belac was contained in Administrative Order 102 issued on Dec. 16, 1999, by President Estrada, through Executive Secretary Ronaldo B. Zamora. Lim said the suspension of Governor Belac is part of the President's all-out campaign to clamp down on graft and corruption in the government.

"We will enforce the law without fear or favor as instructed by President Estrada," he said.

With the suspension of Belac, Vice Gov. Jocel Baac will assume the office of governor of Kalinga province.

Belac’s case stemmed from the administrative complaint of one Ricardo Abadilla and seven other members of the Sanggunian Panlalawigan of Kalinga.

Belac reportedly bought a 1998 Nissan Patrol Safari complete with accessories worth P1.5 million from the Royce Motor Center, Inc., and made a downpayment of P600,000, the balance payable in six months at P165,000 a month.

However, investigation showed there was no appropriation ordinance or resolution authorizing the purchase of the vehicle.