THE Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the three-month suspension of Barangay Tangub chieftain Noli Villarosa in Bacolod City for simple misconduct.
The order dated August 12, 2020, was approved by Paul Elmer Clemente, Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas.
The order, which was served by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Bacolod to Villarosa on Tuesday, June 1, 2021, stated that finding substantial evidence for simple misconduct against Villarosa, the penalty of suspension from work without pay for three months is imposed on him.
The complaint was filed by its Kagawad Dindo Amadeo on June 19, 2019, for punching him.
The complainant claimed that on May 25, 2019, he was sitting at a coffee shop beside the barangay hall when Villarosa allegedly punched him on his back, hitting the nape of his neck.
In previous months, Villarosa was also suspended for the complaint related to the distribution of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) in Barangay Tangub.
Ma. Joy Marideth Madayag, head of DILG-Bacolod, said it is not new to the village official because, in previous months, he was also suspended for six months on the complaint filed against him related to the SAP distribution.
If he refuses to step down from his post, she said Villarosa may face charges for usurpation of authority.
Villarosa’s post will be occupied by Kagawad Luz Atienza for three months.
Villarosa could not be reached for comment as of 6 p.m. Wednesday.