SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – Fear and instability have engulfed this once quiet and peace-loving province following a slew of suspensions ordered by the Ombudsman against a number of local officials, all holding key positions in the local governments here.
First, it was Engr. Jose 0. Magbanua, building official of this municipality, who was slapped a six-month preventive suspension without pay, until the administrative adjudication of the case is terminated. Magbanua’s suspension took effect on July 1.
The charge was for alleged dishonesty, grace abuse of authority, grave misconduct, neglect of duty and oppression, and also included the late Mayor Elmer Untaran who died on July 2.
It stemmed from the alleged refusal of the respondents to accept the building permit application of F. Gurrea Construction, Inc. for the construction of the Antique Government Center, a P964,599,908.14 designed-and build pet project of the outgoing Gov. Rhodora Cadiao.
Next, eight members of the Sanguniang Panlalawigan (SP) were also meted preventive suspensions for six months. The Ombudsman decision, acting on the complaints filed by Ray O. Ventura and Stephen Jules S. Siblag, was received by the Office of Gov. Cadiao on Aug. 5.
Suspended for their alleged refusal to perform their duties were SP Members Egidio P. Elio, Rony I. Molina, Victor R. Condez, Alfie Jay O. Niquia, Plaridel E. Sanchez 1V, Mayella Mae. P. Ladislao, Kenneth Dave B. Gasalao and Julius Cezar O. Tajanlangit.
The site in Barangay Supa where the construction of the Antique Government Center is ongoing is reportedly a prime agricultural and irrigated land and not included in the current Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) of this municipality.
Three consecutive notices of violations and a notice of non-conformance were issued by the Office of the Building Official to the Office of the Governor but the request of the municipality was ignored, local officials said.
Earlier, the provincial government of Antique was given a notice of suspension by the Commission on Audit (COA) for the purchase of 590 units of generator sets valued at P164,610,000 purportedly for the use of all barangays.
COA said the province failed to get a legal bases or legal opinion from the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Energy and the Department of Budget and Management and/or other competent agencies, in the using the restricted funds from its shares in the national wealth./PN
