The Ombudsman has suspended Barangay Captain Noli Villarosa of Tangub, Bacolod City, for six months, the mayor’s spokesman Caesar Distrito confirmed on Tuesday, May 7.
The suspension order was served by a representative of the Department of the Interior and Local Government on Monday, he said.
Kagawad Luz Atienza will be the acting Tangub barangay captain for the duration of the suspension order, Distrito said.
The suspension stemmed from a complaint filed by Kagawad Katrina Joan Sonota and Dindo Amadeo against Villarosa in July 2022 for conduct unbecoming of a public official and grave misconduct.
They alleged that Villarosa delayed the salaries of barangay employees who would then have to borrow money from the unregistered lending business of his partner/wife.
Villarosa, when asked for his comment of Tuesday, said he was leaving it to Destrito an answer.
Distrito said he was not the lawyer for Villarosa in the case at hand but the barangay captain could file a motion for reconsideration before the Ombudsman or an appeal before the Court of Appeals.
However, under the Ombudsman’s rule while the appeal is still pending the decision is executory unless the CA issues a temporary restraining order or the Ombudsman reverses the decision, Distrito said.
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, who was informed by the DILG that the suspension order had been served, said he respects decision of the Ombudsman, Distrito added.
“Mayor Albee is saddened by this turn of events but as city mayor he has a sworn duty to implement the law no matter who will be affected,” Distrito said.*