Ombudsman suspends Northern Samar town mayor for 6 months
TACLOBAN CITY – The Ombudsman suspended Mayor Jose Arturo Suan of Allen, Northern Samar for six months without pay after he was found guilty of grave abuse of authority and oppression.
Suan officially received the suspension order from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Northern Samar on Friday, January 12.

SUAN (Contributed photo)
The case stemmed from his alleged illegal construction of a road project without the appropriate expropriation proceedings and the demolition of the concrete fence built by the owner who opposed the project on her property.
"His deliberate failure to investigate on the propriety of the road construction despite several expressions of disapproval by complainant, unfortunately, manifests bad faith on his part," Deputy Ombudsman Jose Balmeo Jr. said in a decision dated August 30, 2023.
"This oppressive act regretfully resulted to injury on complainant, such that she and her family are now deprived of and/or prevented from fully enjoying their own property," he added.

MAP of Allen, Northern Samar
The administrative charges hurled against six municipal and barangay officials were dismissed for lack of substantial evidence.
Suan has filed a motion for reconsideration on the decision and with his suspension, Vice Mayor Christian Lao will temporarily assume the role of chief executive while Sangguniang Bayan Member Ronnel Cajandab will act as the presiding officer of the SB.