The Office of the Ombudsman found former Mayor Juan Cipriano Celso Sarenas of Pantukan, Compostela Valley guilty of Simple Misconduct and was ordered to pay a fine equivalent to two months’ salary payable to the national treasury.
In its Decision, it was found that Sarenas failed to divest of his business interest in Quasar Mining Corporation. The Ombudsman explained that “prior to 2010 Sarenas, for all intents and purposes, is the owner of 7,500 shares of Quasar Mining Corporation.” Under the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, Sarenas should have divested his shareholdings within 60 days from assumption of office.
According to the Ombudsman, “in this case, as respondent Sarenas is the local chief executive of Pantukan, his position and interest in Quasar Mining Corporation is opposed to or affected by the faithful performance of his official duty.” It added that “considering there is a conflict of interest, Sarenas resigned from the position in the corporation but failed to divest his shareholdings.”
The Municipal Treasurer of Pantukan was directed to submit respondent’s compliance with respect to the penalty imposed. ###