ILOILO City – Punong barangay Roberto Niño Jr. of Calumpang, Molo district has started serving his one-month suspension ordered by the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas for simple misconduct.
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) here served him the suspension order on Aug. 24.
According to City DILG director Oscar Lim Jr., the suspension will be until this Sept. 24.
Niño’s suspension stemmed from his appointing Geraldine Blanco as barangay secretary despite her being supposedly not a resident of Calumpang at the time she was appointed.
Such was a violation of Republic Act 7610, or the Local Government Code, according to the Ombudsman.
“The Office finds substantial evidence against respondent,” read the dispositive portion of the decision dated Dec. 3, 2020 and penned by Luanne Ivy M. Cabatingan, Ombudsman-Visayas’ Graft Investigation and Prosecution Office III.
The barangay captain’s suspension, Cabatingan added, is “without prejudice to any possible action on the appointment of Geraldine Blanco itself, or in relation to the Sangguniang Barangay Members who concurred in her appointment.”
No. 1 barangay kagawad Albert Cuyanan has started serving as acting punong barangay.
“Tanan nga trabaho sang regular nga punong barangay maobra nya except the power to appoint, fire or suspend any employee of the barangay within 30 days,” said Lim./PN
