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)