Ombudsman orders dismissal of Puerto Princesa mayor

January 27, 2017

Mayor Lucilo Bayron of Puerto Princesa City has been ordered dismissed from the service after he was found guilty of serious dishonesty and grave misconduct, the Office of the Ombudsman said in a statement Friday.

In a decision approved by the Ombudsman on December 15  2016, Bayron and his son Karl Bayron, were found administratively liable for facilitating the appointment of Karl as a project manager of the Bantay Puerto-VIP Security Task Force.

The father and son duo were  meted the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office, cancellation of eligibility and forfeiture of retirement benefits.

Records show that Lucilo entered into a contract of service with Karl who was hired as a project manager from July 1 to 31 December 2013, with a monthly salary of P16,000.00 paid out of the city coffers.

In the contract, it clearly stated that the parties attested that Karl “is not related with the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity with the hiring authority.”

In his counter-affidavit, Mayor Bayron asserted that “the position of project manager is a non-plantilla and non-career position in the city government and that Karl’s primary function is to act as the head of the security personnel of the city mayor.”

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales said “while Karl’s engagement was to a confidential position, which is exempted from the rule on nepotism, the disclosure of their filial relationship was still necessary.”

“As for Lucilo, the untruthful statement in the narration of facts was made with abuse of his office as city mayor and as hiring authority,” added Morales. DMS