They ‘failed’ to assist drug ops: Rupinta, other Ermita barangay execs suspended

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has ordered the suspension of Ermita, Cebu City barangay officials for their alleged refusal to assist the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 in an anti-illegal drugs operation.

Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Paul Elmer Clemente's preventive suspension order was dated January 16, 2017.

"All respondents herein namely: barangay captain Felicisimo Rupinta and barangay kagawads Marky Rizaldy Miral, Antonieto Flores, Ryan Jay Rosas, Alio Tamundo, Domingo Ando, Maria Buanghug and Wilbert Flores are hereby placed under preventive suspension until the administrative adjudication on this case is terminated, but not to exceed six months without pay," read the three-page order.

PDEA-7 Director Yogi Filemon Ruiz was the one who filed administrative complaints for grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service against the Ermita officials.

In his complaint-affidavit, he alleged that on November 6, 2016, the Ermita officials refused to cooperate by failing to act as witnesses to the physical inventory of the items seized during the operation against Richard "Tata" Cañete and Josephine Cuyno alias Josephine Cañete of Sitio Bato, Ermita.

Ruiz said the drug den Richard and Josephine operated were located just around 500 meters from the barangay hall.  During the operation, PDEA confiscated at least P800,000 worth of shabu.

Ruiz alleged that they waited for two hours but no barangay officials arrived to witness the inventory of evidence.

Commenting on the Ombusdman order, Ruiz said he hoped it would serve as lesson to all barangay officials that they should be serious about their job in the campaign against illegal drugs.

"Ang kampanya batok sa ilegal nga drugas dili lamang among trabaho sa PDEA kun dili lakip usab ang barangay, tungod kay kung nagtrabaho sila dili modako ang problema sa ilegal nga drugas," he said.

He warned that if the same situation happens to them in other barangays, they would also file the appropriate complaint against their officials.

This early, he dispelled possible allegations that the suspension was politically motivated, saying they do not care about politics when doing their job.

Meanwhile, Department of Interior and Local Government-7 Director Rene Burdeos said that although they already received a copy of the order from the Office of the Ombudsman, they could not implement it yet since they need an implementing order from their office to do so.

As of the moment, he said, Mayor Tomas Osmeña could not appoint yet an officer-in-charge replacing Rupinta since they still need the order from the DILG office in Manila.

In a separate interview, Rupinta said the order was unfair since they were not even given the opportunity to air their side.

Association of Barangay Councils President Philip Zafra said he, too, was surprised to learn there is already the preventive suspension order since he knew Rupinta and the other Ermita barangay officials were not able to present their side yet.

Rupinta said that prior to the issuance of the order, they went to the Ombudsman's office to get a copy of the complaint but were not given since the complaint was allegedly still needing validation from the national office.

He said they would file a motion for reconsideration with the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas and an appeal with the Court of Appeals. (FREEMAN)