As expected from a law-abiding public servant, Clarin Mayor Hermogenes Diezon is set to implement a Supreme Court order reinstating the former assistant treasurer of the municipality. Former Clarin municipal treasurer Samson Tuquib made known his bid to reassume office after the High Court upheld with finality the case he filed for Declaratory Relief and Mandamus before the Regional Trial Court in 2001 against Mayor Diezon and eight others. Tuquib was appointed as assistant municipal treasurer by then mayor Trifon Sanchez. According to Mayor Diezon, the appointment of Tuquib was one of the last official acts of the former Clarin mayor. Seeking redress in court, Tuquib filed the civil action against Mayor Diezon, and eight members of the Sangguniang Bayan at that time that the former municipal treasurer got the ax. One of the former councilors indicted was Allen Ray Piezas now Clarin's vice mayor. Piezas is now running for town mayor against Sanchez while Diezon slides down as vice mayor. After losing the case in the RTC, the respondents filed a petition for certiorari before the Court of Appeals. The RTC decision was penned by Executive Judge Fernando Fuentes III.
On September 24, 2008 , the appellate court denied the petition and the assailed decision of respondent RTC was accordingly affirmed. Not contented with the CA ruling, the respondents filed a petition for review before the high tribunal. The Court denied the petition for review in a resolution dated July 20, 2009 . An entry of judgment certifying that the resolution dated July 20, 2009 has become final and executory on September 9, 2009 and was recorded in the Book of Entries of Judgments. Sought for his comments in relation to the final decision, Mayor Diezon said he would abide to the ruling of the High Court. As reckoned in the RTC judgment, the municipality was liable to pay the petitioner's unpaid salaries and benefits since February 2003 amounting to P441,601.00. However in his own demand before the Clarin Sangguniang Bayan, Tuquib said he was entitled to a total of P2,087,303.11 representing back wages and salaries and other benefits from March 1, 2003 to December 2009.
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