A former vice mayor from Nueva Ecija is asking the Office of the Ombudsman to reverse its dismissal order on him for involvement in the alleged irregular repacking and distribution of relief goods in 2016.
Former Cabanatuan City vice mayor Emmanuel Antonio Umali filed a motion for reconsideration to review the order and clear his name of grave misconduct, abuse of authority and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
“I believe time will come the truth will set us free. I am not rushing to return to my post. I am willing to wait for the Ombudsman to come up with an [reversal] order. I am drawing my inspiration from the people in the truest sense of public service,” he said.
He belied speculations that he was the one circulating a “fake” reversal order of the Ombudsman that would give way to his reinstatement.
He called on the city constituents not to believe in such allegations, saying the political rivals of the Umalis in Nueva Ecija could be responsible behind the smear campaign against him.
“Let us be calm amid the politicking,” he said.
On July 4, the Department of the Interior and Local Government enforced the dismissal order on Umali.
The case stemmed from allegations that Umali and the other accused conspired to reopen, repack and distribute relief goods from the Department of Social Welfare and Development in January 2016 to advance their interests in the May 2016 polls.
“It is clear that the accusations were politically motivated against me, Gov. Cherry Umali and former governor Aurelio Umali whose only intention is to prioritize honest and excellent services to every Novo Ecijano,” the former vice mayor said in his plea.
