ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Office of the Ombudsman-Area office for Mindanao has suspended the vice mayor of the municipality of Imelda in Zamboanga Sibugay province and four other local government employees for 90 days without pay, citing abuse of authority and grave misconduct.
The Ombudsman also disqualified Vice Mayor Roselyn V. Silva from holding public office in an order released Saturday.
Hilde C. dela Cruz-Likit, acting director of the Preliminary Investigation Administrative Adjudication and Prosecution Bureau-A, issued the suspension order dated Friday.
The two-page decision from the Ombudsman’s Mindanao office suspends Silva, Municipal budget officer Veniefel P. Reganion, municipal accountant Dionne Vic G. Tagapia, municipal treasurer Juliet G. Ildefonso and barangay captain Gessant Jay C. Silva, all of Imelda.
Deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao Anderson A. Lo issued the order on Friday in Matina, Davao City which also stated that under administrative rules, Vice Mayor Silva is also disqualified from holding public office.
The complaint against the five officials was filed in November by Marlo V. Badlis, a resident of Imelda municipality.
The Ombudsman cited rules allowing for preventive suspension without pay pending investigation if there is strong evidence of guilt involving dishonesty, oppression, gross misconduct, or neglect of duty.
Meantime, the Deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao has directed the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Commission on Elections to serve the suspension and disqualification order to the respondents.