Ombud dismisses village chief for nepotism

THE Office of the Ombudsman dismissed from service a village official in Iloilo City for appointing his stepdaughter as barangay secretary and secretary of the bids committee.

The Ombudsman ordered the dismissal of Noriel Arsulo, village chief of Nabisan in La Paz district after he was found guilty of nepotism for appointing his stepdaughter Barbara Joy Ignis Aroza as village secretary and secretary of the village's bids and awards committee.

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The case stemmed from the complaint filed by five village councilors of Nabitasan following Arsulo's appointment of Aroza.

Village councilor Norberto Teves Jr., Melchor Tipawan, Matias Tampani, Jimmy Tipawan, and Luisa Espinosa, who acted as complainants, contended in their November 2007 complaint that Aroza was not qualified in the position she was appointed to.

The councilors cited provision of the Local Government Code, which states "No person shall be appointed barangay (village) secretary if he is a sangguniang barangay member, a government employee or a relative of the punong barangay (village chief) within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity."

The order penned by Ombudsman Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer I Giovanni Tianero was approved and signed by Deputy Ombudsman for Visayas Pelagio Apostol.

The Ombudsman ordered Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog to immediately serve the order to Arsulo.

A copy of the Ombudsman order was furnished to Department of Interior and Local Government Western Visayas Director Evelyn Trompeta.

The Ombudsman also ordered Trompeta to take appropriate action on the unlawful appointment Aroza as barangay secretary of Nabitasan.

Mabilog meanwhile said the case of Arsulo is a clear warning to all village officials against appointing their close relatives to any government positions.

Arsulo is reportedly filing a motion for reconsideration on the Ombudsman decision. (Lydia C. Pendon)