A TOTAL of 26 employees of the Mandaue City Government, including the officer-in-charge of the Housing and Urban Development Office, the assistant head of the Assessor's Office, and the head of the janitorial services unit, have been suspended for nine months without pay for padlocking a private property.
The Office of the Ombudsman ruled on the complaint regarding the demolition and padlocking of a property disputed between the Mandaue City Government and private claimants Maria Priscila Melendres and Maritoni Melendres.
Maria Priscila, who received the Ombudsman’s decision, expressed joy over the ruling, saying justice had finally been served regarding their claimed property in Barangay Paknaan.
(It is truly gratifying that we have finally achieved justice. It was not easy to be victims of such serious abuse by the Mandaue government.)
The decision found city officials guilty of "conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service," stating that the respondents were "not clothed with the authority" to carry out the demolition.
The Notice to Demolish issued by the City Legal Officer was addressed to the head of the Office of the Building Official, not to any of the respondents.
Among the high-ranking officials suspended for nine months without pay are Johnbee Biton, OIC of the city’s housing department; Julius Caesar Entise, assistant assessor; and Teodorico Montojo II, head of the Janitorial and Security Services Unit.
The demolition and padlocking of the contested property in Barangay Paknaan took place on May 3, 2023, prompting Maria Priscila and Maritoni Melendres to file a complaint in court, claiming ownership of the property, which they said had been purchased by their grandfather.
They were inside the property when City Government personnel carried out the padlocking and demolition.
The complainants submitted documents to the Ombudsman proving their ownership and filed charges of grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and violations of the Constitution and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
In their counter-affidavit, the accused city officials denied detaining the complainants, stating that only two of the three gates were locked.
They also denied Melendres’ claim of ownership, referring to the property as public land.
“By acting with less than a clear and express legal mandate, respondents tarnished the image and integrity of their respective public offices,” it added.
Assistant Ombudsman Pilarita Lapitan issued the endorsement, dated January 24, 2025, recommending the suspension without pay to the Human Resource Division of the Mandaue City Government “for information and proper action.” (AYB)