On the Dismissal from the Service of Two DOTr-CAR Officials

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) yesterday served the order to dismiss from the service Atty. Jesus Eduardo Natividad, Regional Director in the Cordillera Administrative Region (DOTr-CAR), and Datu Mohammad Abbas, Assistant Regional Director of the DOTr-CAR, after being found guilty of administrative offenses and corruption charges.

Unfortunately, Mr. Abbas refuses to obey the order, saying only President Duterte can terminate him because he is a presidential appointee. 

For the record, Mr. Abbas does not hold any appointment paper from President Duterte. He was appointed by the previous administration, and is serving the DOTr-CAR on a hold-over and acting capacity. A replacement has already been appointed.

Mr. Abbas was dismissed after several stakeholders in Baguio City and the Cordillera region alleged him of misconduct. Among the charges include accepting money to facilitate the issuance of Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC), extortion in exchange for the release of impounded vehicles, accepting commissions from medical and notarial fees relative to franchise applications, as well as Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service for brandishing and toting a gun against a certain clinic employee.

After painstaking scrutiny and careful evaluation of the statements and affidavits, the DOTr found Mr. Abbas guilty of administrative offense of Grave Misconduct and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service with the penalty of dismissal from the service.

Meanwhile, Atty. Natividad was found guilty of Gross Neglect of Duty after he issued a CPC for a U-Hop application within the moratorium period.

The dismissal order also comes with accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification for re-employment in the government services.