A TOTAL of 89 barangay chairpersons nationwide were placed under preventive suspension for six months over their alleged involvement in anomalies in the distribution of the social amelioration program (SAP) cash subsidy.

In an order dated September 2, 2020, the Office of the Ombudsman said “the evidence on record show 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 said the continued stay of the charged punong barangays in their respective offices may prejudice the cases filed against them.

Those who were suspended from office are:

Region I (Ilocos):

Jason C. Dominguez- Barangay Nagsayaoan, Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur

Marino Cabados Cirilo, Sr.- Barangay Cadacad, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur

Antonio Cachero Delos Santos- Barangay Laslasong West, Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur

Elmer Castillo Abenojar- Barangay Guesset, Naguilian, La Union

Samuel S. Fernandez- Barangay Gusing Sur, Naguilian, La Union

Ariel Cayabyab Hiquiana- Barangay San Vicente, San Jacinto, Pangasinan

Walter Bruan Velasco- Barangay Cablong, Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan

Angel Oria Sombrito- Barangay Calanutan, Rosales, Pangasinan

Lawrence Gilbert Delos Angeles- Barangay Balogo, Binmaley, Pangasinan

Froilando V. Fernandez- Barangay Gayaman, Binmaley, Pangasinan

Rogelio Fernandez- Barangay Caloocan Norte, Binmaley, Pangasinan

Region II (Cagayan Valley):

Arnel P. Quesada- Barangay Yeban Sur, Benito Soliven, Isabela

Buenvinido B. Ruiz- Barangay Callangigan, Quezon, Isabela

Domingo G. Tagufa- Barangay Balug, Tumauini, Isabela

German G. Vinoya Jr.- Barangay Oscariz, Ramon, Isabela

Sherwin S. Cadavona- Barangay Calinaoan Malasin, Sto. Tomas, Isabela

Jessie D. Corpuz- Barangay Baybayog, Alcala, Cagayan

Marlon A. Abuyuan- Barangay Tallungan, Aparri, Cagayan

Leodines L. Bautista- Barangay Centro 12, Tuguegarao City

Samson D. Ebenga of Barangay Abaca, Dupax Del Sur, Nueva Vizacaya

Wilson Cansino- Barangay San Geronimo, Bagabag, Nueva Vizacaya

Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)

Jimmy Cabiao- Barangay Quimloong, Bucay, Abra

Dennis Felina- Barangay Luzong, Manabo, Abra

George Frederick Obal- Barangay Apatan, Pinukpuk, Kalinga

Region III (Central Luzon)

Mario Abujen Racoma- Barangay Santo Niño, San Felipe, Zambales

Willie E. Gutierrez- Barangay Nagpandayan, Guimba, Nueva Ecija

Lavarnie Pineda Gopez- Barangay Bulaon, City of San Fernando, Pampanga

NCR (Metro Manila)

Rogelio Atangan, Jr.-Barangay 9, Zone 2, Maricaban, Pasay City

Olivia Suarez- Barangay 181, Zone 19, Maricaban, Pasay City

Leonardo “DJ” Recto- Barangay 11, Zone 2, District 1, Tondo, Manila

Mario Banal- Barangay 123, Zone 9, District 1, Tondo Manila

Romeo Garcia- Barangay 449, Zone 49, District 4, Sampaloc, Manila

Jonas Z. Bartolome- Barangay 418, Zone 4 District 4, Sampaloc, Manila

Anthony Magno- Barangay 283, Zone 26, District 3, Binondo, Manila

Nenita Valdez- Barangay Mariblo, San Francisco Del Monte, Quezon City

Ana Liza Rosero- Barangay Teacher’s Village West, Quezon City

Ritchie Poblacion- Barangay Quirino 2-B, Project 2, Quezon City

Remedios A. Reyes- Barangay Sta. Cruz, Pasig City

Region IV-A (Calabarzon)

Josefino Malicad Jr.- Barangay II-C, San Pablo City, Laguna

Gary Remoquillo- Barangay Landayan, San Pedro City, Laguna

Rowell Cabuyao Dela Torre- Barangay Ilayang Nangka, Tayabas City, Quezon

Rodelio Endaya Barangay Baybayin Rosario Batangas

Region IV-B (Mimaropa)

Aaron Lubina Villareal- Barangay Villa Cervesa, Oriental Mindoro

Lodilito D. Bandiola Jr.- Barangay Salvacion, Rizal, Occidental Mindoro

Imee Malabayas Lara- Barangay Tumapon, Boac, Marinduque

Leonardo M. Narzoles- Barangay Tabi, Boac, Marinduque

Region V (Bicol)

Omar G. Guban- Barangay Batang, Irosin, Pasay Sorsogon

Medel G. Labayan- Barangay Bayabas, Labao, Camarines Norte

Allan Nevales- Barangay Bagongbong, Minalabac, Camarines Sur

Anna N. Theresa Losiñada- Barangay Lacag, Daraga, Albay

Camillo H. Hiloma- Barangay Binisitahan Del Sur, Magallanes, Sorsogon

Eusebio B. Lorico- Barangay Buang, Tabaco City, Albay

Gresilda R. Lumawon- Barangay Mahaba, Ligao City, Albay

Norma B. Bañadera of Barangay Manaet, Bacacay, Albay

Roger Cantes of Barangay Carayrayan, Tiwi, Albay

Region 6 (Western Visayas)

Tezardo M. Tejada- Barangay To-oy, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental

Evelyn C. Ta-asan- Barangay 11, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental

Noli Villarosa- Barangay Tangub, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental

Kim C. Piramo- Barangay 19, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental

Romeo Sultan of Barangay Salamanca Toboso, Negros Occidental

Ruel Sabequil of Barangay Cabungahan, Calatrava, Negros Occidental

Tito Dipon Barnuevo- Barangay Linao, Panay, Capiz

Region 7 (Central Visayas)

Rodolfo Simbajon- Barangay Guio-ang, Guindulman, Bohol

Mario A. Lamanilao- Barangay Calituban, Talibon, Bohol

Eugene Zamora- Barangay Taloto, Tagbilaran City, Bohol

Patricio G. Soco- Barangay Alang-Alang, Mandaue City, Cebu

Ulysses Raganas- Barangay Linao, Talisay City, Cebu

Zosima P. Rojo- Barangay Upper, Natimao-an, Carmen, Cebu

Norman Navarro- Barangay Basak-San Nicolas, Cebu City, Cebu

Ignacio Cortes II- Barangay Centro, Mandaue City, Cebu

Mercedita S. Uy- Barangay Cancawas, San Jose, Negros Oriental

Region 8 (Eastern Visayas)

Michael L. Vapor- Barangay Jordan, Villaba, Leyte

Esterlina M. Jacobe- Barangay Nasaug, Maasin City

Jenecita T. Losaria- Barangay Catalina, Jiabong, Samar

Efren D. Truelda- Barangay 13, Catbalogan City, Samar

Wilfredo Bacarra- Barangay Masagana, Jiabong, Samar

Nathan “Bembem” Gabronino-Barangay Zone 3, Sogod, Southern Leyte

Jebanie R. Rios- Barangay Buenavista, Palompon, Leyte

Region X (Northern Mindanao)

Camilo B. Anduyan- Barangay Tibangan, Iligan City

Jocelyn B. Janioso- Barangay Mabunga, Baugnon, Bukidnon

Zosimo Lao Zapico- Barangay Ampinican, Salay, Misamis Oriental

Region XI (Davao)

Maria T. Te- Barangay Manuel Roxas, Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental

Josephina Padillo- Barangay Libertad, Bansalan, Davao del Sur

Aurora C. Benemerito- Barangay Bangkal, Matanao, Davao del Sur

Noel V. Alo- Barangay Mayo, City of Mati, Davao Oriental

Apolonio Toledo- Barangay Harada Butal, Padada, Davao del Sur

Caraga Region

Wilfredo M. Membrillos- Barangay Nong Nong, Butuan City

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año directed the respective municipal/city mayors of these barangay chairpersons to immediately implement the Ombudsman’s order while the DILG regional and field officers were directed to ensure the orderly implementation of the mass suspension.

Año said this will serve as a stern warning to all local government units that any wrong-doing on their part will not be tolerated by the department.

DILG spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said it is also part of the effort to weed out corrupt officials.

He said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has filed criminal charges against 447 individuals including 211 elected local and barangay officials, 104 appointed barangay officials and 132 civilian co-conspirators for violations of RA 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), RA 11469 (Bayanihan Act I), and RA 6713 (Code of Conduct of Government Officials and Employees), among others, again in relation to the implementation of the SAP.

Under the program, 18 million poor families nationwide received P5,000 to P8,000 cash subsidy from the government during the implementation of stringent quarantine measures against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. An additional five million families were added to the list of beneficiaries for the second tranche of the cash assistance. (SunStar Philippines)