BACOLOD CITY  –  An appeal is on the way for the six-month suspension imposed by the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas against Mayor Severo Palanca of Victorias City, Negros Occidental for dishonesty.

Vice Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca, nephew of the mayor, said they will appeal the Ombudsman decision thus the Department and the Interior and Local Government (DILG) cannot yet enforce the ruling.

Suspended along with the mayor is City Permits and Licenses Division head Ramsy Panes.

The mayor’s lawyer Lorendo Dilag said Friday they are preparing a motion for reconsideration and petition for certiorari.

He added that only DILG Secretary Manuel Roxas II can enforce the six-month and one day suspension without pay of the two officials.

The complaint was filed by James Francis Anthony Garcia, also Palanca’s nephew, who is running for councilor with another party.

DILG provincial head Joy Maredith Madayag said she has not also received a copy of the Ombudsman decision.

In the 22-page decision recommended by Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol on November 21, and approved by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, both Palanca and Panes were found guilty for allegedly issuing permits to a jai-alai gaming station

Garcia alleged in his complaint that city officials conspired and took advantage of their public positions in falsifying a public document denominated as “business permit” on June 23, 2010.

The complainant said the respondents made it appear in the permit that City Sports Office head Gaudencio Corona is the owner and operator of Dalisay Amusement Games and Recreation Station at Gonzaga St., Victorias City even if the entity does not exist.

In its decision, the Ombudsman stated that the evidence substantially shows that respondents Palanca and Panes are guilty of dishonesty in issuing a business permit showing that Corona was the operator/owner and that he had authority/license to engage in jai alai betting station.

Such determinations are not supported by the documents supporting his application for a business permit, the Ombudsman added.*