The posting of bail by suspended Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz for a case lodged against him before the Municipal Trial Court in Cities in Himamaylan City will not affect his return to the Capitol, Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr. said Monday, Aug. 19.
“We are still looking forward to Attorney Ray’s coming back to the provincial government,” Nellas said.
Diaz six-month suspension imposed by the Ombudsman is set to end in December.
A criminal case for alleged violation of Republic Act 6713 (an act establishing a code of conduct and ethical standards for public officials and employees) had been lodged against Diaz before the Municipal Trial Court in Cities in Himamaylan City.
Himamaylan MTCC Acting Presiding Judge Enrique Barcelona issued a warrant of arrest and set bail at P30,000. However, Diaz posted bail on Thursday before it could be served.
The case states that Diaz, being the Provincial Administrator of Negros Occidental, unlawfully engaged in the private practice of his profession as lawyer and represented JLL Agriculture and Development, in an expropriation case, during a hearing before the Regional Trial Court of Himamaylan City, despite his being an official of the provincial government in “conflict or tending to create conflict with his official functions”.
Diaz said it is the same allegation contained in an administrative case for which he was suspended by the Ombudsman for six months.
Diaz reiterated that all his actions in the expropriation case were favorable to the municipality of Binalbagan.*