Echiverri supporters rejoice over CA decision

Supporters of Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri rejoiced Friday upon learning that the Court of Appeals had stayed his suspension by at least 60 days. Many of Echiverri's supporters learned of the decision while attending a Mass for the mayor, according to a report by radio dzBB's Manny Vargas. The atmosphere turned festive after the Mass, the report said. Earlier Friday, many of the mayor's supporters gathered near City Hall to brace for the prospect of the Interior Department serving a suspension order on Echiverri. The Ombudsman had ordered Echiverri 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. The CA granted the petition of Echiverri's camp for a temporary restraining order. The CA also held off the suspension order against City Budget Officer Jesusa Garcia and City accountant Edna Centeno. — RSJ, GMA News