Sandiganbayan junks case vs. Taguig City mayor, administrator

The Sandiganbayan has ordered the dismissal of a 2010 case filed against Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano and Taguig City Administrator Atty. Jose Luis G. Montales for supposedly preventing the members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod from holding their sessions.

 In its 15-page decision dated December 11, 2015, the Sandiganbayan traced the case to the order of Mayor Cayetano as implemented by Atty. Montales in which the venue for the legislative sessions was transferred from the session hall to the biggest room in the city hall auditorium. The transfer order was predicated on a re-organizational plan intended to promote efficiency.  Despite a three-day advance notice, the city councilors refused to hold their session in the designated room in the auditorium. They instead held their session in the stairway. The Sandiganbayan ruled that by offering an alternative venue with sufficient advance notice, it cannot be said in any way that Mayor Cayetano and Atty.Montales intended to prevent the councilors from holding their legislative sessions.

 Mayor Cayetano, who is running for her third term this coming May 2016 elections, was elated by the Sandiganbayan’s decision. In a statement released by her office, Mayor Cayetano said: “I am thankful to the Sandiganbayan for finally putting an end to this discredited old case. Now, I could focus on my energy towards the betterment of my constituents as well as helping Alan in his campaign for change at the national level”. Mayor Cayetano is the wife of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, who is running for vice president in the May 2016 elections in tandem with former Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. ###

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FILIPINO VERSION:

Kaso vs Taguig City mayor, administrator,
ibinasura ng Sandiganbayan

Ibinasura na ng Sandiganbayan ang kasong isinampa noong 2010 laban kina Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano at Taguig City Administrator Atty. Jose Luis G. Montales kaugnay sa pagpigil umano sa mga miyembro ng Sangguniang Panlungsod na magdaos ng kanilang sesyon.

 Sa 15-pahinang desisyon na ipinalabas nitong December 11, 2015, nabatid na nag-ugat ang kaso sa direktiba ni Mayor Cayetano, na ipinatupad ni Atty. Montales, kung saan ang lugar para sa legislative sessions mula sa session hall ay inilipat sa pinakamalaking kuwarto  sa city hall auditorium.

 Ang paglilipat ay alinsunod sa  re-organizational plan na ang layunin ay mapagbuti ang pagbibigay ng serbisyo ng pamahalaang lokal ng Taguig.

Sa kabila ng ‘three-day advance notice’, tumanggi umano ang mga city councilor na gawin ang sesyon sa ibinigay sa kanilang kuwarto sa auditorium. At sa halip, sa hagdanan nila isinagawa ang kanilang sesyon.

 Iginiit ng Sandiganbayan na sa pagbibigay ng alternatibong lugar at sapat na abiso, hindi maaaring palabasin na sinadya nina  Mayor Cayetano at Atty. Montales na pigilan ang mga konsehal na magdaos ng sesyon.

 Labis namang ikinagalak ni Mayor Lani, na tumatakbo sa kanyang ikatlong termino sa darating na May 2016 elections, ang desisyong ito ng Sandiganbayan.

 Sa isang pahayag, sinabi ni Mayor Lani,  “Ako’y nagpapasalamat at tuluyan nang tinuldukan ng Sandiganbayan ang kasong ito na wala naman talagang batayan. Ngayon, mas maitutuon ko ang aking atensyon sa paglilingkod sa aking mga nasasakupan gayundin ang pagtulong kay Alan sa kanyang kampanya para sa pagbabago sa national level.” dagdag ni Mayor Lani.

 Si Mayor Cayetano ay maybahay ni Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, na tumatakbo sa pagka-bise presidente sa May 2016 elections bilang ka-tandem ni former Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. ###