Bacolod barangay captain seeks reversal of dismissal order

“IT'S not yet final.”

This was the statement of the camp of Captain Noli Villarosa of Barangay Tangub in Bacolod City in relation to the reported dismissal order issued against him by the Office of the Obudsman.

In a statement issued by his legal counsel, former Bacolod Councilor Caesar Distrito, he said that his client still has a right to file a Motion for Reconsideration or Appeal the same to the Court of Appeals.

“This is just a simple case that we usually call part of the hassle,” Distrito said describing the order.

He stressed that it [case] was purely a harassment filed against Villarosa and clearly a result of his performance of his lawful duty.

Saying this is not a case of graft and corruption, Distrito stressed that the barangay official was charged because he demolished a cyclone fence that encroached on the right of way and sidewalk along Ramylu Drive.

“He was then complying with the Order of Former President Rodrigo Duterte to clear all roads and sidewalks from obstructions,” the lawyer emphasised.

He added that, in fact, the owner of the structure had received the only compensation of P5,000 in exchange for the removal.

“However, a different person whom he (Villarosa) had an axed to grind against him, had filed a case,” Distrito noted.

On top of that , the Ombudsman had already dismissed this administrative case and the criminal case they filed.

“My client was just surprised that the Ombudsman reversed its decision,” he lamented.

Distrito stressed that Villarosa will remain and will function as the captain of Barangay Tangub, and his legal team will exhaust all available legal remedies.

They are confident that a temporary restraining order will be issued in favor of Villarosa or this will be reversed in his favor.

The reported dismissal order stemmed from the alleged simple misconduct case filed by Candido Medalla against the barngay captain.

The Department of Interior and Local Government in Bacolod has not yet received the copy of the supposed dismissal order.*