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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Mayor, vice mayor, councilors of Mauban town in Quezon charged with graft by 18 barangay officials

Mayor, vice mayor, councilors of Mauban town in Quezon charged with graft by 18 barangay officials

Published Oct 2, 2025 04:17 pm
The mayor, vice mayor, and members of the municipal council of Mauban, Quezon were charge criminally and administratively before the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) for the alleged irregular suspension of 18 barangay (village) chairpersons in the municipality.
Charged with graft, grave abuse of authority, and grave misconduct were Mayor Bautista Erwin Dwight Pastrana, Vice Mayor Alween Sardea, and Councilors Nathaniel Calucin, Abelardo Mandrique, Michael Diasanta, Raquel Almacen, Yolanda Santayana, Juan Lorenzo Pastrana, Edgardo Astoveza, Liza Mandrique, Julieto Espinas, and Marlon Luna.
None of the respondents in the complaint could be contacted for comment as of posting time.
The complaint stated that the 18 barangay chairpersons were suspended on Sept. 8, 2025 on the order of Mayor Pastrana. The six-month suspension was for "their alleged violation of the provisions of the Constitution and By-Laws of the Liga ng Mga Barangay local chapter."
The alleged violations included frequent absences and late payments of Liga dues, among other things.
Mayor Pastrana and the other officials were accused of hiring a private lawyer, who drafted the complaint against the barangay chairpersons and issued the resolution ordering their suspension.
The complainants cited Section 65 of the Local Government Code (LGC) which mandates that a formal hearing and investigation should first be conducted before an elective official can be suspended or removed from office.
They also cited the Supreme Court (SC) ruling in Joson vs. Torres which states: "When an elective official is suspended or removed, the people are deprived of the services of the man they elected. Implicit in the right to suffrage is the people are entitled to the services of the elective officials of their choice."
The complaint was signed by Barangay Alitap Chairperson Rudelyn Pamesa, Barangay Bato Chairperson Deogenes Manaog, Barangay Cagsiay II Chairperson Ernane Postades, Barangay Concepcion Chairperson Marina Gapasangra, Barangay Lual Barrio Chairperson Renan Mejilla, Barangay Lual Poblacion Chairperson Maribel Malabaguio, Barangay Sadsaran Chairperson Rosenette Lapina, Barangay Cagbalite II Chairperson Christopher Revuelta,
Barangay Lucutan Chairperson Arvin Pajulas, Barangay Remedios II Chairperson Ronaldo Gallardo, Barangay San Rafael Chairperson Michael Ayangco, Barangay San Roque Chairperson Rogelio Gandia, Barangay San Vicente Chairperson Dulce Derecho, Barangay Abo-abo Chairperson Ramir Cambalicer, Barangay San Jose Chairperson Carlito Alpajora, Barangay Cagsiay I Chairperson Danilo Pastrana, Barangay Daungan Chairperson Lani Maroto, and Barangay San Isidro Chairperson Rodante Almacen.
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