Echiverri supporters brace for DILG suspension order

Supporters of Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri gathered near City Hall anew before dawn Friday as they braced for the possibility of a suspension order being served against him before the weekend. Many of the supporters spent Thursday night near City Hall, some of them staying under the tents set up earlier this week, radio dzBB's Allan Gatus reported. The report said many of Echiverri's supporters received "information" that the Department of Interior and Local Government may serve the Ombudsman's suspension order on the mayor within Friday. Echiverri, who had vowed not to step down from office, had failed to get a temporary restraining order from the courts against the suspension. Since Monday night, Echiverri's supporters have been holding vigils near City Hall to "protect" their idol against a suspension order from the Office of the Ombudsman. Some of the supporters even set up a videoke machine and served food while keeping watch over City Hall to make sure Echiverri is not removed. On Monday, the Office of the Ombudsman ordered the mayor suspended for allegedly failing to remit over P37 million in city employees’ contributions to the Government Service Insurance System. But Echiverri questioned the order and said he merely inherited the debt from predecessor Reynaldo Malonzo. He also claimed the remittances collected during his term were all remitted to GSIS. Also ordered suspended were City Treasurer Evelina Garma, City Budget Officer Jesusa Garcia and City accountant Edna Centeno.— LBG, GMA News