Ex-mayor barred from holding gov’t post

A former town mayor in Western Samar has been barred from holding public office in connection with an alleged anomalous cemetery project.

Former Hinabangan mayor Alejandro Abarratigue, municipal treasurer Raul Tapia and administrative officer II Analiza Bagro were found guilty of grave misconduct and face charges for graft, the Office of the Ombudsman said yesterday.

The respondents were also ordered dismissed from the service and barred from taking civil service examinations. Their retirement benefits were forfeited.

The cases stemmed from the alleged irregular purchase of a parcel of land for the expansion of the municipal cemetery in 2008.

The respondents allegedly facilitated and approved the payment of P500,000 to acquire the lot without authority from the Sangguniang Bayan.

Siquijor mayor suspended

Meanwhile, the ombudsman suspended Dean Villa, mayor of Larena town in Siquijor, for one month after he was found guilty of simple misconduct for allegedly trying to hurt his brother and ordering his arrest.

Graft probers said Villa had an altercation with his brother Ronnie after the Sangguniang Panlalawigan found the mayor guilty of misconduct on March 10, 2016.

Ronnie claimed Villa attempted to assault him and ordered the police to arrest him.

“By using his authority and office for his personal advantage…respondent clearly transgressed the norms and standards expected of him as a public servant,” the ombudsman said.