Ombudsman Of The Philippines (Wikipedia)
MANILA, June 22 – The Office of the Ombudsman (Ombudsman) has ordered the filing before the Sandiganbayan of a case for nepotism against former San Dionisio, Iloilo Mayor Peter Paul King Lopez for appointing his son, Carlos Paul Lopez, as Acting Licensing Officer of the municipality in 2015.
Records show that Carlos Lopez was first appointed as Executive Assistant, a co-terminus position.
On Jan. 5, 2015, Lopez issued an executive order designating Carlos as Acting Licensing Officer, a career position in the Civil Service.
In a resolution, the Ombudsman said that “there is no dispute that respondent and Carlos are related to each other and the respondent designated Carlos to the position of Acting Licensing Officer of the municipality. Thus, it clearly constitutes the offense charged.”
It added that “while Carlos was only designated as Acting Licensing Officer, the rule on Nepotism admits of no distinction between appointment and designation.”
According to Section 79 of Republic Act No. 7160, or the “Local Government Code”, no person shall be appointed in the career service of the local government if he is related within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to the appointing or recommending authority.
Meanwhile, under Section 49 of Presidential Decree 807, or the “Civil Service Decree of the Philippines”, all appointments in the government made in favor of a relative of the appointing authority are prohibited and it will be punished by a fine not exceeding PHP1,000 or by imprisonment not exceeding six months, or both such fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the court. (PTR/PNA)