Three barangay captains of Bacolod City are set to return to their posts on Wednesday, March 17, after serving their six-month suspensions over complaints on the implementation of the first tranche of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) subsidy.
This was confirmed Tuesday, March 16, by Ma. Joy Maredith Madayag, Department of Interior and Local Government-Bacolod director.
She said that village chieftains Noli Villarosa of Barangay Tangub, Evelyn Ta-asan of Brgy 11, and Kim Piramo of Brgy 19 were already informed about their reinstatement.
She said their case is still with the Office of Ombudsman, which has yet to issue a resolution.
The three village officials were among the 89 barangay captains in the country who were suspended over alleged e anomalies and irregularities in the implementation of the SAP.
Other barangay captains in Negros Occidental who were also suspended and set to return to work are Tezardo Tejada of Barangay To-oy, Himamaylan City, Romeo Sultan of Barangay Salamanca, Toboso, and Ruel Sabequil of Cabungahan of Calatrava.
The Ombudsman’s order dated Sept. 2, 2020 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 months pursuant to Republic Act No. 6770 is proper under the premises.”*