Ombudsman suspends 8 Antique board members over P1-B budget inaction
By Tara Yap
ILOILO CITY — The Ombudsman ordered the suspension of eight Antique Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) members over their alleged inaction on the P1-billion supplemental budget of the provincial government.

Suspended for six months were Board Members Egidio Elio, Rony Molina, Victor Condez, Alfie Jay Niquia, Plaridel Sanchez IV, Mayella, and Plameras Ladislao, as well as ex-officio members Julius Cezar Tajanlangit of the Liga ng mga Barangay and Kenneth Dave Gasalao of the Sangguniang Kabataan.
“There is strong evidence showing guilt of the charges against them that involves grave misconduct, oppression, and gross neglect in performance of duty,” said Ombudsman Samuel Reyes Martires in an August 1, 2024 order released this week.
Administrative complaints were filed against them for alleged deliberate inaction on the first supplemental budget proposed by Gov. Rhodora “Dodod” Cadiao.
Part of the budget was alloted for solar energy projects of eight provincial hospitals as well as installation of solar-powered street lights and home solar systems.
The Ombudsman found out that the majority of board members “deprived the 200 barangays of the province of Antique and about 15,000 households of home solar systems."