Mayor dismissed for signing marriage certificate in absentia

POZORRUBIO, Pangasinan, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of the mayor of this town for signing a marriage certificate of a couple even though he did not officiate at their wedding.

In a nine-page decision recently signed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, Mayor Artemio Chan was found guilty of grave misconduct and serious dishonesty. The court also ordered Chan’s perpetual disqualification from holding public office, the cancellation of his civil service eligibility and forfeiture of his retirement benefits.  

Daniel Sarmiento Jr., a casual employee of the municipal government who officiated the wedding on behalf of Chan, was found guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and suspended for nine months.

Ly-Ar Punzalan and Cherilyn Buyao, who filed the complaint, said Sarmiento told them that Chan authorized him to officiate at their wedding on March 14, 2016.

”Chan’s actuation constitutes dishonesty...His act also tainted the integrity and image of his office for making it appear that he performed his functions when in fact he did not. It was clearly an abuse of authority,” the court ruling stated. 

Chan said the complaint was politically motivated. He said he would file a motion for reconsideration.