THE Department of Interior and Local Government will implement anytime this week the suspension order on Oriental Mindoro Gov. Alfonso Umali, Jr.

DILG legal division chief Edward Justine Orden  forwarded the memorandum for the implementation of the order to Undersecretary Austere Panadero.

As of press time, the memo was reportedly submitted for signing by DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo.  It will then be sent to Region 4B director Rolando Calabazaron for the formal implementation.

The anti-graft court meted out Umali, Jr. with a 90-day suspension for alleged misuse of public funds in 1994.

Umali filed a motion for reconsideration. However, on May 2, he withdrew the motion and opted to serve a voluntary suspension.

The governor told DILG in a letter that his action “is in compliance with  the resolution of the Sandiganbayan.”

Umali, a known ally of President Benigno Aquino and treasurer of the Liberal Party, said he wants to “spare the President from possible intrigues.”

He said he did not want to abuse his closeness to the President in getting a favorable decision from the court.

Should the order be implemented, Vice Gov. Humerlito Dolor will take Umali’s post.