So justice has finally been served to the people of Panglao when the Department of Interior and Local Government through Assistant Regional Director Pedro Noval Jr. finally implemented the six-month suspension order on Mayor Doloreich Dumaluan last Jan. 23.

The suspension order was in connection with the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman following the resolution of the case filed against Dumaluan. Docketed as OMB-V-A-05-0426-I, the administrative case was filed against Dumaluan by Councilors Telesforo Mejos, Cereno Hormachuelos and Dennis Hora, treasurer Rena Guivencan and budget officer Catalino Sumaylo. According to the records of the case, Dumaluan charged gasoline in the amount of P5,661.23 to the municipality of Panglao even though the mayor already receives representation and transportation allowance (RATA) and is thus no longer allowed to charge gasoline purchases for his personal vehicles.

In her decision dated Nov. 28, 2006 , Ombudsman Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez said Dumaluan has admitted to the fueling of his private vehicles at the expense of the municipality of Panglao . This admission, the order said, settles the issue. To no one's surprise, Dumaluan's loyalist refused to go down silently. They mounted a public address system and blamed a lot of people for the suspension while conveniently neglecting the fact that the Gutierrez decision was arrived at after giving parties to the case their day in court.

Without doubt, this suspension is a triumph of the justice system. However flawed it may be, the people of Panglao can find consolation in the fact that it has been served in this case and that despite the delay, justice has taken its course. This does not mean though that the justice system has suddenly taken on perfection. One swallow does not a summer make and one resolved case does not elevate the system to a pedestal of perfection. The justice system is simply on trial.

There are other cases involving far more serious violations and graver offenses that need to be resolved. In fact, the question on many people's minds is not so much why a mayor can be suspended for a measly amount of P5,661.23 while the P120-million National Irrigation Administration dam scam in Talibon remains unresolved. Are we supposed to get the message that in order for you to escape liability, you have to steal big – really big? That is a question that only the justice system can answer. If the perpetrators of the dam scam and heinous crimes like rape and murder remain scot-free, the answer would be in the affirmative. Nevertheless, we insist to hope against hope.