Concerned citizens questioned Tuesday why the barangay kagawads (village councilmen) allegedly involved in social amelioration program (SAP) related anomalies were spared from preventive suspension unlike the 89 barangay captains who suffered the penalty for such infractions.
The call was made after President Duterte announced in a public address on Monday night the names of the 89 barangay captains involved in the SAP cash aid distribution.
As mentioned by the President, the barangay captains issued with preventive suspensions by the Office of the Ombudsman include Jason C. Dominguez of Barangay Nagsayaoan, Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur; Marino Cabados Cirilo, Sr. of Barangay Cadacad, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur; Antonio Delos Santos y Cachero of Barangay Laslasong West, Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur; Elmer Castillo Abenojar of Barangay Guesset, Naguilian, La Union; Samuel S. Fernandez of Barangay Gusing Sur, Naguilian, La Union; Ariel Cayabyab Hiquiana of Barangay San Vicente, San Jacinto, Pangasinan; Walter Velasco y Bruan of Barangay Cablong, Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan; Angel Oria Sombrito of Barangay Calanutan, Rosales, Pangasinan; Lawrence Gilbert Delos Angeles of Barangay Balogo, Binmaley, Pangasinan; Froilando V. Fernandez of Barangay Gayaman, Binmaley, Pangasinan; Rogelio Fernandez of Barangay Caloocan Norte, Binmaley, Pangasinan; and Rogelio Fernandez of Barangay Caloocan Norte, Binmaley, Pangasinan; Rogelio Atangan, Jr. of Barangay 9, Zone 2 and Olivia Suarez Barangay 181, Zone 19, Maricaban both from Pasay City; Leonardo “DJ” Recto of Barangay 11, Zone 2, and Mario Banal of Barangay 123, Zone 9, both from District 1, Tondo; Romeo Garcia of Barangay 449, Zone 49, and Jonas Z. Bartolome Barangay 418, Zone 4 both from District 4, Sampaloc, Manila; and Anthony Magno of Barangay 283, Zone 26, District 3, Binondo, Manila; Nenita Valdez of Barangay Mariblo, San Francisco Del Monte, Quezon City; Ana Liza Rosero of Barangay Teacher’s Village West, Quezon City; Ritchie Poblacion of Barangay Quirino 2-B, Project 2, Quezon City; and Remedios A. Reyes of Barangay Sta. Cruz, Pasig City.
The others in the list are Arnel P. Quesada of Barangay Yeban Sur, Benito Soliven, Isabela; Buenvinido B. Ruiz of Barangay Callangigan, Quezon, Isabela; Domingo G. Tagufa of Barangay Balug, Tumauini, Isabela; German G. Vinoya Jr. of Barangay Oscariz, Ramon, Isabela; Sherwin S. Cadavona of Barangay Calinaoan Malasin, Sto. Tomas, Isabela; Jessie D. Corpuz of Barangay Baybayog, Alcala, Cagayan; Marlon A. Abuyuan of Barangay Tallungan, Aparri, Cagayan; Leodines L. Bautista of Barangay Centro 12, Tuguegarao City; Samson D. Ebenga of Barangay Abaca, Dupax Del Sur, Nueva Vizacaya; and Wilson Cansino of Barangay San Geronimo, Bagabag, Nueva Vizacaya.
In addition, the said barangay captains include Omar G. Guban of Barangay Batang, Irosin, Pasay Sorsogon; Medel G. Labayan of Barangay Bayabas, Labao, Camarines Norte; Allan Nevales of Barangay Bagongbong, Minalabac, Camarines Sur; Anna N. Theresa Losiñada of Barangay Lacag, Daraga, Albay; Camillo H Hiloma of Barangay Binisitahan Del Sur, Magallanes, Sorsogon; Eusebio B Lorico of Brgy. Buang, Tabaco City, Albay; Gresilda R Lumawon of Barangay Mahaba, Ligao City, Albay; Norma Bañadera of Barangay Manaet, Bacacay, Albay; and Roger Cantes of Barangay Carayrayan, Tiwi, Albay; Rodolfo Simbajon of Barangay Guio-ang, Guindulman, Bohol; Mario A. Lamanilao of Barangay Calituban, Talibon, Bohol; Eugene Zamora of Barangay Taloto, Tagbilaran City, Bohol; Patricio G. Soco of Barangay Alang-Alang, Mandaue City, Cebu; Ulysses Raganas of Barangay Linao, Talisay City, Cebu; Zosima P. Rojo of Barangay Upper, Natimao-an, Carmen, Cebu; Norman Navarro of Barangay Basak-San Nicolas, Cebu City, Cebu; Ignacio Cortes II of Barangay Centro, Mandaue City, Cebu; and Mercedita S. Uy of Barangay Cancawas, San Jose, Negros Oriental.
Also included are Tezardo M. Tejada of Barangay To-oy, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental; Evelyn C. Ta-asan of Barangay 11, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental and Noli Villarosa of Barangay Tangub, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental; Kim C. Piramo of Barangay 19, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental; Romeo Sultan of Barangay Salamanca Toboso, Negros Occidental; Ruel Sabequil of Barangay Cabungahan, Calatrava, Negros Occidental; and Tito Dipon Barnuevo of Barangay Linao, Panay, Capiz; Michael L. Vapor of Brgy. Jordan, Villaba, Leyte; Esterlina M. Jacobe and Brgy. Nasaug, Maasin City; Jenecita T. Losaria of Brgy Catalina, Jiabong, Samar; Efren D. Truelda of Brgy. 13, Catbalogan City, Samar; Wilfredo Bacarra of Brgy. Masagana, Jiabong, Samar; Nathan “Bembem” Gabronino of Brgy. Zone 3, Sogod, Southern Leyte; and Jebanie R. Rios of Barangay Buenavista, Palompon, Leyte.
Also included in the list are Maria T. Te of Barangay Manuel Roxas, Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental; Josephina Padillo of Barangay Libertad, Bansalan, Davao del Sur; Aurora C. Benemerito of Barangay Bangkal, Matanao, Davao del Sur; Noel V. Alo of Barangay Mayo, City of Mati, Davao Oriental; and Apolonio Toledo of Barangay Harada Butal, Padada, Davao del Sur.
The others are Josefino Malicad Jr. of Brgy. II-C, San Pablo City, Laguna; Gary Remoquillo of Brgy Landayan, San Pedro City, Laguna; Rowell Cabuyao Dela Torre of Barangay Ilayang Nangka, Tayabas City, Quezon; Rodelio Endaya of Brgy. Baybayin, Rosario Batangas; Aaron Lubina Villareal of Barangay Villa Cervesa, Oriental Mindoro; Lodilito D. Bandiola Jr. of Barangay Salvacion, Rizal, Occidental Mindoro; Imee Malabayas Lara of Barangay Tumapon, Boac, Marinduque; Leonardo M. Narzoles of Barangay Tabi, Boac, Marinduque; Mario Racoma Y Abujen of Barangay Santo Niño, San Felipe, Zambales; Willie E. Gutierrez of Barangay Nagpandayan, Guimba, Nueva Ecija; Lavarnie Gopez of Brgy. Bulaon, City of San Fernando, Pampanga; Camilo B. Anduyan of Brgy. Tibangan, Iligan City; Jocelyn B. Janioso of Barangay Mabunga, Baugnon, Bukidnon; Zosimo Lao Zapico of Brgy. Ampinican, Salay, Misamis Oriental; Jimmy Cabiao of Barangay Quimloong, Bucay, Abra; Dennis Felina of Barangay Luzong, Manabo, Abra; George Frederick Obal of Barangay Apatan, Pinukpuk, Kalinga and Wilfredo M. Membrillos of Barangay Nong Nong, Butuan City.
With the President spurning corruption in the government service, the concerned citizens urged the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to coordinate with other anti-corruption bodies to expedite the expulsion of the barangay officials from their posts in case the charges against the accused have merits.
A businessman from Quezon City where three village chiefs were among the 89 barangay captains mentioned by the President in his public address said that preventive suspensions should be carried out against the barangay kagawads involved in the SAP irregularities.
By enforcing the preventive suspension orders, the businessman who requested anonymity stressed that this will prevent them from using their position to escape liability.
In case the charges are unfounded, the businessman said that the barangay officials may be reinstated after the resolution of their cases.
Responding to the call, DILG National Barangay Operations Office (NBOO) Director Dennis Villaseñor clarified that the Office of the Ombudsman is the agency tasked to issue the preventive suspension orders against the erring barangay officials.
He noted that the local chief executives (LCEs) serve the preventive suspension orders of the Office of the Ombudsman and not the DILG.
Out of the 441 complaints received by the NBOO against the barangay officials involved in SAP-related issues, Villaseñor disclosed that 258 involved the barangay captains and 72 include the barangay kagawads.
Earlier, DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya explained that since the concerned barangay kagawads were identified as accomplices, their cases are with the prosecutors’ office or local courts.
Also as previously stated, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año pointed out that the 89 barangay captains meted by the Office of the Ombudsman with six months preventive suspensions due to alleged SAP-related anomalies “are not entitled to any salary, allowance and honorarium.’’
The DILG chief also stressed that the barangay captains under the preventive suspension list are “not allowed to report on the barangay office/hall’’.