Ombudsman and DILG maintain decision to suspend Governor Umali of Nueva Ecija

Governor of Nueva Ecija, Aurelio “Oyie” Umali

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Office of the Ombudsman are maintaining the six-month preventive suspension the latter imposed on Nueva Ecija Governor Aurelio Umali on May 22 over the alleged illegal issuance of 205 permits for sand and gravel mining in the province.

In a statement on Sunday, the Ombudsman announced his stance despite an interim injunction issued by the Court of Appeal (CA) through its 11th Division on the same day.

READ: TRO stops Ombudsman, DILG from barring Ecija governor from taking office

Citing a report by DILG Deputy Regional Director Jay Timbreza, the ombudsman said the preventive suspension order was received at the agency’s headquarters on May 14 and there were three attempts to serve it – once on May 21 and twice on May 22.

“Because the Governor was allegedly on leave, the order for preventive suspension was served on the appropriate Capitol officials, who declined to comply,” the statement said.

“Consequently, the order was posted on the front door of the Office of the Provincial Governor in Cabanatuan City on the morning of May 22, 2024, as well as on the front door of the new provincial capitol in Palayan City shortly before 1 p.m. the same day,” it said.

Shortly thereafter, however, the Ombudsman stated that CA “granted Umali’s application for an interim injunction on the grounds that the governorship is essential to the delivery of services to its constituents.”