Cagayan vice governor starts 90-day preventive suspension over graft case

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines — Cagayan Vice Gov. Manuel Mamba began serving his 90-day preventive suspension on Monday, Sept. 21, after the Regional Trial Court in Batac, Ilocos Norte, denied his motion for reconsideration.

Mamba said he respected the court’s order, stressing that the suspension was “not a penalty but a procedural requirement.” He said he would exhaust all legal remedies and remained confident that justice would prevail.

He also expressed confidence in Acting Vice Gov. Randy Ursulum, the highest-ranking member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, to oversee its affairs during his absence.

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READ: Court rejects Cagayan vice gov’s appeal over 90-day suspension

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The suspension stems from a graft case involving alleged irregularities in the payment of about P40 million for provincial infrastructure projects during Mamba’s tenure as governor.

The complaint was filed by JLL Pulsar Construction Corp., which sought payment for completed projects. 

Mamba denied the allegations, saying his withholding of payment was part of a policy requiring payments to be released to registered project owners.

The case was transferred to Batac after prosecutors sought to move the proceedings from Cagayan to prevent possible influence-peddling.

The Commission on Audit has separately upheld JLL Pulsar’s claim for P40.34 million, citing a final arbitration award for completed and accepted projects. /cb