Leyte town mayor suspended

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the suspension of a town mayor in Leyte and a former city vice mayor in Negros Occidental.

In separate decisions released on Friday, Mayor Susan Yap-Ang of San Isidro, Leyte and Santiago Maravillas, former vice mayor of Escalante, Negros Occidental, were found guilty of oppression and abuse of authority, respectively.

The ombudsman suspended Yap-Ang for nine months for refusing to allow barangay councilman Ramonsito Viola to attend a seminar on solid waste management in Cebu City from Dec. 3 to 5, 2015 due to his party affiliation.

Investigation showed Yap-Ang ordered barangay captains to exclude councilmen who are not her party mates.

The ombudsman said Yap-Ang’s action was “an abuse of authority amounting to oppression.” 

Maravillas was suspended for six months in connection with a complaint filed by livestock inspector Angel Sinadjan.

Since Maravillas is no longer in office, the ombudsman said the penalty is convertible to a fine equivalent to his salary for six months.

Sinadjan said Maravillas terminated him on Jan. 6, 2016 without cause and due process. Records show Sinadjan was holding a permanent position in the city veterinarian’s office.

The ombudsman said Maravillas’ action was a “clear display of excessive use of authority.”