KAUSWAGAN, Lanao del Norte (PIA)–The Supreme Court (SC) has acquitted Kauswagan Mayor Rommel Arnado from three counts of Grave Coercion filed against him in 2013.
The Simbuat family accused the mayor and filed the charges claiming that they were forced and threatened to leave their residence in Barangay Tacub.
The decision of the Supreme Court promulgated on March 21, 2022, granted the appeal filed by the Mayor seeking the reversal of the erroneous ruling of the Sandiganbayan finding him guilty beyond reasonable doubt for the said crimes.
The Supreme Court reversed and set aside the Sandiganbayan ruling based on the facts and circumstances of the case and the evidence on record.
“Masaya tayo [We are happy.]. I was able to redeem my name. Iyong term sa decision na [The term used on the decision that] there was an error in the Sandiganbayan decision against me,’ that was really redeeming and I’m very happy with that,” said Arnado.
Despite these issues, the town of Kauswagan continues to implement programs and projects for the betterment of the communities.
The establishment of an amusement park at the longest boardwalk is almost complete. There will be a carousel, ferris wheel, picaron, train, air bike and playground for the kids.
Moreover, the municipality was recognized by the Bureau of Local Government Finance as the top municipality in terms of year-on-year growth in locally-sourced revenues for the fiscal year 2020-21.
“Yung recent na recognition sa amin na [The recognition for us being the] number 1 in the entire country in the year-to-year growth of locally-sourced income is an indication that Kausgwagan is really on the right track.
The mayor said that they focused on enhancing the tax collection in the town by implementing programs for the community to pay their taxes. (LELA/PIA-10-Lanao del Norte)
