Cadiao: Lessons must be learned from suspension of 8 prov'l board members
By Tara Yap
ILOILO CITY – There should be lessons learned from the suspension of eight members of the Antique provincial board, Gov. Rhodora “Dodod” Cadiao said.
“I’m saddened, but this serves as a lesson. The people should not be denied government services only because of politics,” Cadiao said.

CADIAO (Tara Yap)
The Ombudsman suspended Board Members Egidio Elio, Rony Molina, Victor Condez, Alfie Jay Niquia, Plaridel Sanchez IV, and Mayella and Plameras Ladislao, as well as ex-officio members Julius Cezar Tajanlangit of the Liga ng mga Barangay (LNB)-Antique and Kenneth Dave Gasalao of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK)-Antique.
Ombudsman Samuel Reyes Martires found sufficient evidence of “grave misconduct, oppression, and gross neglect in performance of duty” for “deliberate” inaction when the board members junked a bulk of the P1-billion supplemental budget requested by Cadiao’s office – the more than P700 million in the proposed budget that is derived from the national wealth tax from coal extracted at Semirara Island in Caluya northwest of Antique.
The Department of Energy (DOE) said the money can be used for electrification and other energy-related projects only.
As a result, the Ombudsman ruled that the eight board members “deprived the 200 barangays of the province of Antique and about 15,000 households of home solar systems.”
Cadiao said these proposed energy-projects were for residents of far-flung areas, including those in island and mountain barangays.
She expressed empathy to the suspended board members. “I know how they feel. My experience was worse,” said Cadiao.
Cadiao posted bail last June 2023 after a warrant of arrest was issued by the Sandiganbayan against her for allegedly violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
“But the law is the law. We can only pray and wait for it to be resolved legally,” Cadiao added.