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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Makati City mayor, vice mayor, 15 others charged in suspension of barangay officials

Makati City mayor, vice mayor, 15 others charged in suspension of barangay officials

Published Jul 27, 2021 03:48 pm

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Office of the Ombudsman

Makati City Mayor Mar-len Abigail "Abby" S. Binay-Campos, Vice Mayor Monique Q. Lagdameo, and 15 others have been charged administratively before the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) in the closure of a barangay hall and the suspension of all barangay officials without assigning “caretakers” in their absence.

Also charged with gross negligence and gross misconduct were lawyer Dindo Cervantes of the Office of the Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod; lawyer Cherry Canda-Melodias, director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) - Makati City; City Councilors Dennis B. Almario, Maria Dolores M. Arayon, Martin John Pio Q. Arenas, Benedict B. Baniqued, Arnold J. Cruz, Virgilio V. Hilario, Jr., Luis S. Javier Jr., Armando P. Padilla, Rene Andrei Q. Saguisag, Jr., Kristina T. Sarosa, Jose C. Villena IV, Anna Alcina M. Yabut, and Rodolfo C. San Pedro.

The complaints were filed Rose Ann Guevarra and Julie Raymundo, both residents of Barangay Carmona. They asked the OMB to order the suspension of Mayor Binay and her co-respondents for six months under Republic Act No. 6770, the Ombudsman Act.

Guevarra and Raymundo told the OMB that all of the officials of Barangay Carmona were placed under preventive suspension last July 4. They said that the suspension deprived them and other residents of access to basic services, such as the issuance of the Barangay Clearance.

They said that when they applied for a Barangay Clearance at the Carmona Barangay Hall on July 7, they were informed that no clearance would be issued since "no one will sign."

They said they returned the following day, only to find their request rejected once again. On their inquiry, they said they were presented with a copy of the City Resolution of the Sangguniang Panglungsod of Makati City. They were also shown a copy of the order of preventive suspension issued by Mayor Binay.

With the suspension of all barangay officials, Guevarra and Raymundo said it is incumbent upon Mayor Binay and the other respondents to assign a "caretaker" for the barangay.

"The respondents clearly slept with this obligation and should be all liable for gross negligence and grave misconduct," they told the OMB.

"Closing the barangay or making it non-operational for more than a week is not a joke... as we all know the barangay is the first office that a constituent can seek for their basic and essential needs," they said.

Last June, eight officials of barangay Carmona were ordered suspended for 90 days for their failure to submit and enact the barangay annual investment program and budget in 2019 and 2020 in violation of Republic Act No. 7160, the Local Government Code of 1991.

The barangay simply operated on a reenacted budget for two consecutive years, which meant that their allowable expenses were limited to the salaries and wages of barangay officials, their essential operating expenses, and statutory and contractual obligations.

Because of their actions, the residents of Carmona were deprived of obtaining social services and benefits since there were no funds for the said programs and services.

Related news: https://mb.com.ph/2021/06/28/8-makati-barangay-officials-including-chairman-suspended-for-90-days/

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