THE Office of the Ombudsman ordered Kalinga Governor Joel Baac a six-month suspension while facing charges of abuse of authority and conduct unbecoming of an official.
Baac received the order, which barred him from office and official functions, the last Friday, June 9.
“He may still appeal the case in the court of appeals but should follow the decision of the court in serving his sentence,” said Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)–Cordillera Director Marlo Iringan.
In 2015, Baac was sued for inflicting injury against Provincial Board Secretary Mathew Matbagan with the entire board condemning the act.
The DILG investigated on the incident after police reports said the assault by Baac on Matbagan was witnessed by other government employees.
Baac was charged for crimes of physical injury, coercion, and malicious mischief. In the same Ombudsman complaint, the administrative cases filed against Baac include grave misconduct, oppression, abuse of authority, being notoriously undesirable, and conduct unbecoming a public officer.
In 2012, Baac served a month-long suspension imposed by Malacañang for assaulting a broadcaster inside a local radio station in June 2011.
On Tuesday morning, June 13, Iringan administered the oath of Vice Governor James Edduba as acting governor while the latter administered the oath of lawyer Shirlynne Alunday as acting Vice Governor.