The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the 6-month suspension of Danao City Administrator Jesus Durano after he was found guilty of Dishonesty for false statements included in his Personal Data Sheet (PDS). In case of separation from the service, the suspension is convertible to a fine equivalent to respondent’s six months salary.
The Ombudsman found that Durano stated under oath in his 2011 PDS that he has not been formally charged despite a certification issued by the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (Danao City) that he had three pending criminal cases.
Durano admitted that he failed to disclose the pending criminal cases despite knowing of their existence.
In finding him guilty, the Ombudsman stated that “all his actions reveal an intention to conceal the fact that he was formally charged with criminal cases, constituting dishonesty.” For this, “no good faith can be attributed to him.”
The Ombudsman also warned Durano “that the commission of a similar or graver offense in the future shall be dealt with more severely.” ###