Ocon ordered suspended

An administration city councilor has been ordered suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman for slapping a traffic law enforcer in 2016. In a statement at the Ombudsman website, the Ombudsman found councilor Zaldy Ocon guilty of Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service and found probable cause for violation of Article 359 (Slander by Deed) of the Revised Penal Code.

Ocon is ordered suspended for six months without pay.

It can be recalled that Ric Emmanuel Agustin, a member of the Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA), issued a traffic violation ticket against Ocon after the latter parked his vehicle in a ‘No Parking’ zone last November 30, 2016.

An altercation between the two escalated the following day when Ocon slapped Agustin after the latter was invited by RTA officer in charge Engineer Nonito Oclarit to the city council’s session hall to settle the issue.

Former RTA overseer and Task Force Hapsay Dalan Chief lawyer Edgardo Uy witnessed the slapping incident.

“The statement of indignation of the RTA and

affidavit of Atty. Uy sufficiently established respondent’s culpability. Records show that respondent’s actuations have tarnished the image of his public office when he slapped the complainant. A public official should avoid any appearance of impropriety affecting the integrity of government services. Every public officer should be an example of integrity and proper behavior,”the ombudsman decision reads.

“The Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees enunciates the State policy of promoting a high standard of ethics and utmost responsibility in the public service. By his actuations, respondent failed to live up to such standards,”the decision added.