Some 89 Punong Barangays across the country have been placed on six-month preventive suspension by the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) following the filing of complaints by the Department of the Interior and Local Government against the said barangay officials for anomalies and irregularities involving the implementation of the first tranche of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP).
DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año directed the respective Municipal/City Mayors of these Punong Barangays to immediately implement the order of the Office of the Ombudsman upon receipt while the DILG Regional and field officers were directed to ensure the orderly implementation of the said mass suspension.
He thanked Ombudsman Samuel Martires for immediately acting on the complaints filed by the Department against the erring PBs since this will serve as a stern warning to all local government units that any wrong-doing on their part will not be tolerated by the Department.
“Naway magsilbing babala ang suspensiyon na ito sa iba pang mga lokal na opisyales. Ang katiwalian ay walang puwang sa ating pamahalaan lalong-lalo pa ngayong panahon ng pandemya,” he added.
In an Order dated September 2, 2020, the Office of the Ombudsman said that “the evidence on record shows that the guilt of these punong barangays is strong and the charges against them involve Serious Dishonesty, Grave Misconduct, Abuse of Authority and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service which may warrant removal from the service.”
The Ombudsman maintained that the continued stay off these punong barangays in office may prejudice the case filed against them, “[so] placing them under preventive suspension for a period of six (6) months pursuant to Republic Act No. 6770 is proper under the premises.”
DILG Undersecretary and Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said that the suspension of the 89 Punong Barangays, the first such mass suspension in the history of the country, is just the latest in a series of moves undertaken by the DILG to weed out corrupt officials in the implementation of the SAP.
He said that acting on the orders of the DILG, the PNP-CIDG has already filed criminal cases against 447 individuals for violations of RA 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), RA 11469 (Bayanihan Act I), and RA 6713 (Code of Conduct of Government Officials and Employees), among others, again in relation to the implementation of the Social Amelioration.
Of the 447 suspects, 211 are elected local and barangay officials, 104 are appointed barangay officials and 132 are their civilian co-conspirators. The cases are now being handled by the different City and Provincial Prosecutors across the country who have started the filing of the necessary information against the suspects in the courts.
Region I, NCR, Region II tops list of suspended PBs
According to the DILG Chief, Region I, National Capital Region, and Region II tops the list of suspended PBs while Cordillera Administrative Region and Caraga has the least number of suspended PBs. Only Region XII has no suspended PBs among all regions.
Among the 12 suspended PBs in Region I are Jason C. Dominguez of Barangay Nagsayaoan, Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur; Marino Cabados Cirilo, Sr. of Barangay Cadacad, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur; Antonio Delos Santos y Cachero of Barangay Laslasong West, Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur; Elmer Castillo Abenojar of Barangay Guesset, Naguilian, La Union; Samuel S. Fernandez of Barangay Gusing Sur, Naguilian, La Union; Ariel Cayabyab Hiquiana of Barangay San Vicente, San Jacinto, Pangasinan; Walter Velasco y Bruan of Barangay Cablong, Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan; Angel Oria Sombrito of Barangay Calanutan, Rosales, Pangasinan; Lawrence Gilbert Delos Angeles of Barangay Balogo, Binmaley, Pangasinan; Froilando V. Fernandez of Barangay Gayaman, Binmaley, Pangasinan; Rogelio Fernandez of Barangay Caloocan Norte, Binmaley, Pangasinan; and Rogelio Fernandez of Barangay Caloocan Norte, Binmaley, Pangasinan.
In the National Capital Region (NCR), included in the 11 suspended PBs are Rogelio Atangan, Jr. of Barangay 9, Zone 2 and Olivia Suarez Barangay 181, Zone 19, Maricaban both from Pasay City; Leonardo “DJ” Recto of Barangay 11, Zone 2, and Mario Banal of Barangay 123, Zone 9, both from District 1, Tondo; Romeo Garcia of Barangay 449, Zone 49, and Jonas Z. Bartolome Barangay 418, Zone 4 both from District 4, Sampaloc; and Anthony Magno of Barangay 283, Zone 26, District 3, Binondo, Manila; Nenita Valdez of Barangay Mariblo, San Francisco Del Monte, Quezon City; Ana Liza Rosero of Barangay Teacher’s Village West, Quezon City; and Ritchie Poblacion of Barangay Quirino 2-B, Project 2, Quezon City; and Remedios A. Reyes of Barangay Sta. Cruz, Pasig City.
In Region II, there are 10 suspended PBs including Arnel P Quesada of Barangay Yeban Sur, Benito Soliven, Isabela; Buenvinido B. Ruiz of Barangay Callangigan, Quezon, Isabela; Domingo G. Tagufa of Barangay Balug, Tumauini, Isabela; German G. Vinoya Jr. of Barangay Oscariz, Ramon, Isabela; Sherwin S. Cadavona of Barangay Calinaoan Malasin, Sto. Tomas, Isabela; Jessie D. Corpuz of Barangay Baybayog, Alcala, Cagayan; Marlon A. Abuyuan of Barangay Tallungan, Aparri, Cagayan; Leodines L. Bautista of Barangay Centro 12, Tuguegarao City; Samson D. Ebenga of Barangay Abaca, Dupax Del Sur, Nueva Vizacaya; and Wilson Cansino of Barangay San Geronimo, Bagabag, Nueva Vizacaya.
In addition, there are nine suspended PBs in Region V namely, Omar G Guban of Barangay Batang, Irosin, Pasay Sorsogon; Medel G Labayan of Barangay Bayabas, Labao, Camarines Norte; Allan Nevales of Barangay Bagongbong, Minalabac, Camarines Sur; Anna N. Theresa Losiñada of Barangay Lacag, Daraga, Albay; Camillo H Hiloma of Barangay Binisitahan Del Sur, Magallanes, Sorsogon; Eusebio B Lorico of Brgy. Buang, Tabaco City, Albay; Gresilda R Lumawon of Barangay Mahaba, Ligao City, Albay; Norma B Bañadera of Barangay Manaet, Bacacay, Albay; and Roger Cantes of Barangay Carayrayan, Tiwi, Albay.
In Region VII, among the nine suspended PBs are Rodolfo Simbajon of Barangay Guio-ang, Guindulman, Bohol; Mario A. Lamanilao of Barangay Calituban, Talibon, Bohol; Eugene Zamora of Barangay Taloto, Tagbilaran City, Bohol; Patricio G. Soco of Barangay Alang-Alang, Mandaue City, Cebu; Ulysses Raganas of Barangay Linao, Talisay City, Cebu; Zosima P. Rojo of Barangay Upper, Natimao-an, Carmen, Cebu; Norman Navarro of Barangay Basak-San Nicolas, Cebu City, Cebu; Ignacio Cortes II of Barangay Centro, Mandaue City, Cebu; and Mercedita S. Uy of Barangay Cancawas, San Jose, Negros Oriental.
Eight of the suspended PBs are from Region VI including Tezardo M. Tejada of Barangay To-oy, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental; Evelyn C. Ta-asan of Barangay 11, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental and Noli Villarosa of Barangay Tangub, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental; Kim C. Piramo of Barangay 19, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental; Kim C. Piramo of Barangay 19, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental; Romeo Sultan of Barangay Salamanca Toboso, Negros Occidental; Ruel Sabequil of Barangay Cabungahan, Calatrava, Negros Occidental; and Tito Dipon Barnuevo of Barangay Linao, Panay, Capiz.
There are seven suspended PBs in Region VIII including Michael L. Vapor of Brgy. Jordan, Villaba, Leyte; Esterlina M Jacobe and Brgy. Nasaug, Maasin City; Jenecita T. Losaria of Brgy Catalina, Jiabong, Samar; Efren D. Truelda of Brgy. 13, Catbalogan City, Samar; Wilfredo Bacarra of Brgy. Masagana, Jiabong, Samar; Nathan “Bembem” Gabronino of Brgy. Zone 3, Sogod, Southern Leyte; and Jebanie R. Rios of Barangay Buenavista, Palompon, Leyte.
Also included in the list of five suspended PBs in Region XI are Maria T. Te of Barangay Manuel Roxas, Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental; Josephina Padillo of Barangay Libertad, Bansalan, Davao del Sur; Aurora C. Benemerito of Barangay Bangkal, Matanao, Davao del Sur; Noel V. Alo of Barangay Mayo, City of Mati, Davao Oriental; and Apolonio Toledo of Barangay Harada Butal, Padada, Davao del Sur.
In Region IV-A there are four suspended PBs including Josefino Malicad Jr. of Brgy. II-C, San Pablo City, Laguna; Gary Remoquillo of Brgy Landayan, San Pedro City, Laguna; Rowell Cabuyao Dela Torre of Barangay Ilayang Nangka, Tayabas City, Quezon; and Rodelio Endaya of Brgy. Baybayin Rosario Batangas.
There are also four suspended PBs in Region IVB namely, Aaron Lubina Villareal of Barangay Villa Cervesa, Oriental Mindoro; Lodilito D. Bandiola Jr. of Barangay Salvacion, Rizal, Occidental Mindoro; Imee Malabayas Lara of Barangay Tumapon, Boac, Marinduque; and Leonardo M. Narzoles of Barangay Tabi, Boac, Marinduque.
Region III has three suspended PBs including Mario Racoma Y Abujen of Barangay Santo Niño, San Felipe, Zambales; Willie E. Gutierrez of Barangay Nagpandayan, Guimba, Nueva Ecija; and Lavarnie Gopez Y Pineda of Brgy. Bulaon, City of San Fernando, Pampanga.
Three PBs are also suspended in Region X including Camilo B Anduyan of Brgy. Tibangan, Iligan City; Jocelyn B. Janioso of Barangay Mabunga, Baugnon, Bukidnon; and Zosimo Lao Zapico of Brgy. Ampinican, Salay, Misamis Oriental.
In Cordillera Administrative Region, three PBs are also suspended including Jimmy Cabiao of Barangay Quimloong, Bucay, Abra; Dennis Felina of Barangay Luzong, Manabo, Abra; and George Frederick Obal of Barangay Apatan, Pinukpuk, Kalinga.
Finally, PB Wilfredo M. Membrillos of Barangay Nong Nong, Butuan City, Caraga Region is likewise suspended for six months.
