MEXICO — The Office of the Ombudsman ordered the dismissal of Mayor Teddy Tumang of this town for alleged grave misconduct.
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) served the order of dismissal on Friday afternoon, August 25, after coordinating with Governor Dennis Pineda.
Tumang’s expulsion order is pursuant to the "Consolidated decision dated November 21, 2022 of the Office of the Ombudsman in OMB-L-A-21-0085 and OMB-L-A-0039 entitled 'Field Investigation-Luzon vs. Teddy C. Tumang, et al.”
The DILG order did not specify the case stemming from the dismissal of the four Mexico town officials.
The order also failed to mention the complainants in the particular case.
Tumang got penalties cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification from holding public office, bar from taking civil service examinations.
Three other former local government employees --- Municipal Accountant Perlita Trono Lagman, Municipal Engineer Jesus Sanchez Punsalan, and Administrative Officer Luz Canda Bondoc, a former member of the Bids and Awards Committee --- were included in the dismissal order.
“Due to their separation from service, fines equivalent to their respective salaries for one year, payable to the Office of the Ombudsman, and may be deductible from their retirement benefits, accrued leave credits or any receivable from their office,” the order said.
Vice Mayor Ruding Gonzales was installed as the new local chief executive of this town following Tumang’s dismissal.
Tumang was serving his third and last term as mayor prior to his expulsion.
Rumors are circulating in the town that he is planning to run for representative of the province’s third district in the coming May 2025 polls.
SunStar Pampanga tried to reach Tumang for his comments, but he was not responding until press of time yesterday.