CEBU CITY – A barangay captain in Danao City, northern Cebu province was slapped with a one-year suspension for assaulting two barangay tanods or watchmen last year.

In a decision signed Dec. 5, 2025, the Office of the Ombudsman found Taboc Barangay Captain Celestino Durano Sybico III guilty of simple misconduct and oppression.

The incident happened during a meeting of barangay officials last April.

The complaint was filed on May 6, 2025 by then Danao Mayor Thomas Mark Durano. Sybico and Durano are first-degree cousins.

In his complaint, Durano accused Sybico of assaulting barangay tanods Jonaldo Castillo and Editho Mangas Jr. while they were serving a subpoena to resident Irene Casas.

In the complaint, Sybico “suddenly approached Castillo and Mangas in an agitated manner.”

Castillo's uniform was torn and was kicked and punched in the lower hip.

The complaint also stated that the respondent struck Mangas with a mineral water bottle on his right shoulder.

Sybico denied the allegations, describing that the complaint was a mere hearsay and politically motivated. He said the tanods were not wearing uniforms and only approached them to verify their identities and check if they were carrying weapons.

Durano said he filed the complaint to protect the community from abuses of authority.

The Ombudsman dismissed the administrative complaint against Sybico for violating Republic Act 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials).

The Ombudsman said failure to abide by the norms of conduct under Section 4 of RA No. 6713 is not a ground for administrative disciplinary action. It, however, found substantial evidence for misconduct and oppression, noting that the barangay officials “wrongfully inflicted bodily harm against Castillo and Manga."