BAGUIO CITY — The Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs (DESLA) of the Office of the President issued an order this week placing both the governor and the suspended vice governor of Abra under preventive suspension.

According to the decision issued by DESLA Atty. Anna Liza G. Logan, Abra Governor Dominic Valera is suspended for 60 days, effective upon receipt of the order. The suspension is in accordance with the Local Government Code (LGC) of 1991.

The ruling stems from a complaint filed last year by the spouse of Bucay Sangguniang Bayan (SB) member Juan Palcon, who died from illness. Febes Alzate Palcon filed the complaint after another individual, rather than her, was sworn in as SB member to replace her late husband.

In her complaint, Mrs. Palcon insisted that she should have taken over her husband's position, but the governor installed another person, in violation of the LGC. She also claimed that the person who assumed the position was endorsed by Valera-Bernos.

In the order, the DESLA stated that since the vice governor is already serving an earlier suspension issued by DESLA, "the requirement that her continuance in service could influence or pose a threat to the safety and integrity of the records and other evidence in the instant case is not present, insofar as she is concerned."

Vice Governor Joy Bernos was suspended for 18 months after being found guilty of oppression, abuse of authority, conduct unbecoming of a public official, and disobedience to government policies related to the imposition of a community lockdown that affected hospital services during the pandemic in 2020.