Isuela suspended anew, this time for 8 months

Caramoran municipal Liga ng mga Barangay president Magin P. Isuela's reinstatement last week as ex-officio members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan proved to be short-lived as his colleagues suspended him anew for eight months.

Last Sunday morning, the Tribune was able to get hold of a copy of the notice signed by Liga Board executive vice president Arsenio T. Romero informed Isuela that "on May 22, 2000 at 2:00 o'clock in the afternoon, the Provincial Liga board reached a decision in the administrative case filed by Manuel V. Araojo against you."

It said that seven members of the board, constituting two-thirds of the 10 members allowed to vote, found Isuela guilty of the charges and imposed the penalty of suspension as Municipal Liga President for eight (8) months "to take effect immediately upon receipt."

It likewise informed Isuela that "by operation of law, you are deemed suspended also as Provincial Liga president and Ex-Officio President Board Member effective upon your receipt of this letter." The minutes of the "May 22" decision was not made available by the source.  

The suspension, which came after his 90-day preventive suspension ended Nov. 22, was issued by the Provincial Liga Board on the same day and received by SP secretary Ursus S. de Quiroz on the same day at 4:48 P.M.

Apparently, PBM Isuela had not heard of this suspension as he was able to attend the special session of the board the following morning (Nov. 23), with none of the board members allied with Rep. Leandro B. Verceles showing up. Strangely, SP Secretary Ursus de Quiroz did not saw it fit to inform Isuela of the notice of suspension he received the day before.

The new suspension effectively prevents PBM Isuela from tilting the balance of power in the provincial board in favor of those identified with Gov. Hector S. Sanchez, even if SK provincial federation president Remelito Cabrera manages to sit as ex-officio member. It will also stoke further legal wranglings even as the case filed by Isuela continues to be heard at the Regional Trial Court. Isuela's counsel say they will be filing a case for certiorari or annulment of the Liga board decision by next week.