Malacañang orders 60-day preventive suspension of DavNor guv

DAVAO CITY – The Office of the President (OP) placed Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib under preventive suspension for 60 days starting April 11.

In an interview Thursday, Abdullah Matalam, the Department of the Interior and Local Government in Davao Region (DILG-11) regional director said Vice Governor De Carlo Uy will serve as acting governor of Davao del Norte for 60 days while Jubahib is still suspended.

"The suspension order came from the Office of the President. We followed the order, and we just did our job. It's nothing personal," he said.

The order was the result of the Nov. 24, 2022, affidavit complaint filed by Board Member Orly Amit against Jubahib for grave abuse of authority and oppression and the latter's Oct. 9, 2023, answer.

Amit filed the complaint against the governor in connection with last year's barangay elections in the area.

"After a preliminary evaluation and consideration of the parties' allegations and evidence, this Office finds strong evidence of guilt against Gov. Jubahib. Likewise, given the gravity of the offense charged, there is a great probability that his continuance in office could influence the witnesses or pose a threat to the safety and integrity of the records and other evidence," the April 8, 2024 order signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said.

The order was under Section 63 (a) of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the "Local Government Code of 1991", and Section 1, Rule 6 of Administrative Order No. 23, s. 1992. (PNA)