Local government in the Philippine islands,

LAWS RELATING TO MINDANAO AND SULU

493

ployee full opportunity to be heard. The hearing shall
occur as soon as may be practicable and in any event not
later than fifteen days from the date the accused is furnished a copy of the charges, unless the suspended officer
or employee shall, on good and sufficient reasons, request
an extension of time to prepare his defense. The hearing
before the board or council shall be public and shall be
held without any unnecessary delay, and the testimony of
the witnesses shall be taken in writing. Within thirty
days after completion of the investigation, the board or
council shall render in writing its findings as to the truth
or falsity of the charges and decide whether or not the
accused shall be dismissed from the service or punished by
suspension not to exceed six months. From the decision
of the board or council the respondent officer or employee
shall be entitled to an appeal as hereinbefore prescribed,
if the appeal is filed within fifteen days after receipt by
such respondent officer or employee of the findings and
decision of the board or council. Immediately upon receipt of notice of such appeal the board or council shall
transmit the record containing the charges, evidence taken,
findings, and decision in the case to the authority empowered to decide the appeal. In case the suspended officer
or employee is ordered reinstated, payment may be ordered
of his salary for the time of his suspension, but in no case
shall payment of salary during the period of suspension
be made to a suspended officer or employee who has been
reinstated, unless such payment is expressly ordered to be
made by the Secretary of the Interior.
(f) Special powers of secretary of the interior.-The
provisions of this section shall not be construed to deprive
the Secretary of the Interior of the power to investigate
on his own motion, and for cause to suspend or remove
any officer or employee of Mindanao and Sulu...
CHAPTER 64.-THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS.
ARTICLE I.-General provisions.
SEC. 2614. Municipal corporations.-The provincial
board of any province established under this title may, by
resolution approved by the Secretary of the Interior, organize any territory within the province as a municipality
in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
(a) Municipalities excepted.-Municipalities heretofore established in Mindanao and Sulu are continued and
recognized as municipal corporations unless and until re