Ma. Belen Sunga-Acosta, chair of the Mindanao Development Authority. MindaNews file photo by CAROLYN O. ARGUILLAS
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 10 June) – Former Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) chairperson Maria Belen Acosta has been restricted access to her office on the 14th floor of the Landco Corporate Center here.
In a post on her Facebook account on Monday, Acosta said that her office has been occupied, her cabinets removed and her official email address disabled.
“Binali ang R.A. (Republic Act) 9996 pati pa okir na nameplate ko (R.A. 9996 was broken as well as my nameplate),” she said.
Acosta maintained that R.A. 9996, the law creating MinDA, fixes the term of office of its chairperson for six years.
She said that there is still no final decision on the quo warranto case she filed against her successor, Leo Tereso S. Magno.
The quo warranto petition was filed by Acosta last May 24, but was dismissed by the Regional Trial Court Branch 15 on May 27.
However, Acosta filed a motion for reconsideration of the court’s dismissal decision.
MindaNews sought comments from MinDA officials on Acosta’s claim that her office access has been restricted, but there was no reply as of 6:20 p.m. on Monday.
Acosta said that two security guards have been posted at the entrance of her office.
“These security protocols were not there before. People normally come and go inside my office. It is, after all, a government office. Its purpose is to serve the people. This is not a personal property. It belongs to the people,” she said.
She said that she and her staff were asked to turn over all properties issued to them.
She said there is also a new security protocol implemented for the “ingress of visitors to the 14th floor of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA),” where Acosta was holding office.
In the new protocol, all security personnel are ordered to authorize personnel/employees and visitors with confirmed appointments with the Office of Chairperson, the Office of the Executive Director, or the office of the Deputy Executive Director to the 14th floor.
It said that visitors who don’t have confirmed appointments “shall be directed to the 10th floor MinDA office for processing and confirmation with the said offices for admission to the 14th floor.”
Magno, appointed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on May 13, took his oath of office on May 21. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)
