Malacañang on Saturday said it followed due process when it ordered the 60-day preventive suspension of Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib.

The Office of the President (OP) made a thorough assessment of the administrative complaint filed by Board Member (BM) Orly Amit against Jubahib, according to a statement by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who signed the suspension order on April 8.

Bersamin said Jubahib was ordered suspended “to prevent any undue interference in the conduct of the investigation.”

Amit filed the complaint against Jubahib on Nov. 24, 2022 for grave abuse of authority and oppression in connection with last year’s barangay (village) elections.

“The OP found that the complaint sufficiently alleged grave abuse of authority and oppression on the part of Gov. Jubahib in connection with the recall of BM Amit’s service vehicle without legal basis,” he said.

“Secondly, the preventive suspension of Gov. Jubahib was ordered only after the issues were joined in accordance with Section 63 (a) of Republic Act No. 7160 (Local Government Code) and Sections 1 and 4, Rule 6 of Administrative Order No. 23 series of 1992 (rules and procedures on the investigation of administrative disciplinary cases),” Bersamin added.

Bersamin said the OP “remains committed to ensuring transparency and fairness in all administrative proceeding.”

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday served the suspension order, but Jubahib refused to heed the directive, which he dismissed as “harassment, injustice and power tripping.”

DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said the order followed the lodging of an administrative complaint filed by “various parties” against Jubahib for “alleged misuse of authority, potential oppression, and the utilization of government funds to advance the interests of a private company.” (PNA)

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