Comelec acknowledges Pangasinan execs’ suspension

BAGUIO CITY — The National Office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) recognized the serving of the suspension order against the mayor and vice mayor of Urdaneta City, Pangasinan stating that it did not violate the rules.

In a letter response of the Comelec to the letter of the Department of Local and Interior Government (DILG) Region I, Comelec Director IV Atty. Maria Norina S. Tangaro-Casingal stated that the serving of the suspension order against Urdaneta City Mayor Julio Parayno III and Vice Mayor Jimmy Parayno is not an offense to the Omnibus Election Code (OEC) requiring that a serving of suspension against elective officials should not be within the period of prohibition s t by the commission.

On 5 February, DILG Region 1 Regional Director Jonathan Paul M Leusen Jr. wrote the commission informing it that the DILG served the 3 January suspension order issued by the Office of the President against the two officials on 7 January.

In the past promulgation of the Comelec resolution purposely for the May 2025 Elections particularly Section V, it is prohibited to suspend any elective provincial, city, municipal or barangay official from 12 January to 12 June except upon written approval of the Commission. The order against the Paraynos was served on 7 January through substituted service due to the absence of the two. 

The suspended mayor also wrote the commission informing the said office that the suspension order against them falls into the election ban making it invalid. Parayno also insisted he is not suspended as he did not receive copies of such as he was absent when the DILG served it.

In the decision of the Office of the President on 3 January 2025, the two officials were found administratively liable for Grave Misconduct and Grave Abuse of Authority and were ordered suspended for 12 months or one year.