Ombuds suspends Barili officials

After six years, the Department of Interior and Local Government served a six-month suspension order against three officials and two employees of Barili, Cebu.

The order was issued by the Office of the Ombudsman against Mayor Marlon Garcia; Vice Mayor Teresito Mariñas; Councilor Shiela Pason; disaster risk, reduction, and management officer Richel Montemayor; and disbursing officer Salome Merelos.

They were found guilty of simple neglect of duty in line with the overpayment of leave credits to Pason.

“Nag-leave ang konsehal unya na-extend iyang leave unya dili na covered sa iyang leave nga ma-releasan og sweldo ug RATA (Revised Rates of Representation and Transportation Allowances),” said DILG Provincial Director Jerome Gonzales.

Garcia who was still vice mayor when the case against them was filed in 2012, described the findings as “absurd,” saying he was just performing his ministerial duty as vice mayor at that time.

"My ministerial duty is to recommend for the approval of the leave of my councilor when I was the vice mayor then… unya ako man na ministerial duty… I was suspended because I did my job to recommend for the approval... kung dili sad nako i-recommend, masuspenso sad ko," Garcia said.

He will move to have the order reconsidered.

The suspension of the three elected officials in Barili resulted to the temporary vacancy of posts.

Second Councilor Jeremias Aguillar will now serve as acting mayor while Third Councilor Nelson Gingoyon now acts as vice mayor.

Jeremias said he will abide by the decision of the Ombudsman and serve as acting mayor for six months.

The Sangguniang Bayan of Barili has seven members.