SINUSPINDE ng Office of the Ombudsman ang alkalde ng San Fernando City, La Union dahil sa umano’y maanomalyang paggastos sa pondo ng lokal na pamahalaan.

Isang barangay chair ang unang nagreklamo dahilan para irekomenda ang suspensiyon sa Department of Interior and Local Government laban kay Mayor Hermigildo Gualberto.

Sinabi ni Barangay Cadaclan captain Samuel Jucar na hindi umano nagamit nang tama ni Cadaclan ang development fund sa San Fernando City noong 2018.

Ang naturang pondo ay ginamit umano sa rehabilitasyon ng city plaza.

Sa kanyang panig, mahigpit na idinepensa ng alkalde na natanggap umano niya ang kautusan at ngayon ay iniaapela dahil hindi umano sila binigyan ng dapat na panahon para makapagpaliwanag.

“This preventive suspension emanates from a case which I have never seen or been given the opportunity to examine or oppose. It also comes with undue haste and at a suspicious time – two weeks shy of the elections. This is why I cannot shake off the feeling that this malicious persecution is designed to humiliate your manong, your kabagis, your mayor in the eyes of the people.”

“However, I have personally gotten to know a lot of you to trust that the people of San Fernando know better than to believe decoys and diversions. My faith is in you, my brothers and sisters, knowing that you will not allow this plot to succeed,” ayon pa sa alkalde.