Stella dela Peña took her oath as acting barangay captain of Barangay 16 before Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez at the Bacolod City Government Center Friday afternoon, December 9.
She took her oath after the Sangguniang Panlungsod suspended barangay captain Joseph de los Santos for six months.
The oath taking was witnessed by Department of the Interior and Local Government-Bacolod Director Maredith Joy Madayag, City Legal Officer Romeo Carlos Ting Jr. and Rep. Stephen Paduano (Abang Lingkod Partylist).
Dela Peña was accompanied by Richard Arellano – Brgy 16 secretary, Annaliza Santiago – treasurer and kagawads Jie Rodolfo Madrigal, Franz Familliaran, Ermelo Alintano, Jude Bryan Alson, Loleta Arela and Cristina Ligaya, and Sangguniang Kabataan chairman Jasson Wensie Billones.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod adopted a Committee on Laws, Ordinances and Good Government decision to suspend de los Santos during its regular session Wednesday, December 7.
De los Santos and treasurer Rachel Jamandre were suspended for grave abuse of authority, grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, Councilor Al Victor Espino, chairman of the committee, said.
The administrative case was filed by the Barangay 16 kagawads and the Sangguniang Kabataan chairman.
The two were cited for grave abuse of authority for the delay in the release of the honoraria, salary and other benefits of the complainants and other barangay workers in Barangay 16 in 2021 and 2022.
They were also cited for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service for “falsifying the 2021 Annual Budget” of Barangay 16, Espino said.*