Ombudsman suspends 8 Antique board members

ILOILO CITY: The Office of the Ombudsman ordered a six-month preventive suspension for eight members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan over their 'deliberate action' to delay the PHP1.07 billion supplemental budget of the province. In a six-page order signed by Ombudsman Samuel Martirez on Aug.1, Board Members Egidio P. Elio, Rony L. Molina, Victor R. Condez, Alfie Jay O. Niquia, Plaridel E. Sanchez IV, Mayella Mae P. Ladislao, Kenneth Dave B. Gasalao, and Julius Cedar O. Tajanlangit, were ordered suspended without pay not exceeding six months as 'there is strong evidence showing their guilt.' 'The office finds sufficient grounds to preventively suspend herein respondents considering that there is strong evidence showing their guilt…' on charges of grave misconduct, oppression, grave abuse of authority, gross neglect of duty under the 2017 Revised Rules of Administrative Cases in the Civil Service and the Republic Act 6713 or the Norms of Conduct of Public Officials and Employees. The Ombudsman found that th e respondents 'deliberately delayed action' on Supplemental Budget No.1, amounting to PHP1.07 billion, during their regular session on May 20 and 27. Further, the respondents also 'boycotted' their regular session on June 3, thus resulting in the adjournment for lack of quorum. With these, the budget to install a photovoltaic system in eight hospitals, the purchase of a home solar system, and the installation of solar-powered streetlights were set aside. 'In effect, it deprived the 200 barangays of the province of Antique and about 15,000 households of home solar systems,' said the order. The suspension order takes effect immediately. Source: Philippines News Agency