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ILOILO CITY — For the second time, the Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the suspension of eight members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Antique after finding them guilty of multiple administrative offenses.
The Ombudsman has ordered a one-year suspension without pay on Egidio Elio, Rony Molina, Victor Condez, Alfie Jay Niquia, Plaridel Sanchez IV, Mayella Mae Ladislao, Kenneth Dave Gasalao and Julius Cezar Tajanlangit, all members of the provincial board.
An Ombudsman decision, approved on March 10, found them guilty of grave abuse of authority, grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a public officer.
The charge for gross neglect of duty was dismissed due to lack of merit.
If suspension cannot be imposed due to retirement or separation from service, they will instead face a fine equivalent to one year of their basic salary, payable to the Ombudsman.
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The administrative case stemmed from the officials' failure to allocate funding for public welfare projects under Supplemental Budget 1 for 2024, submitted by Antique Gov. Rhodora Cadiao in April.
The budget amounting to P1.075 billion included P765 million designated for electricity services such as solar power installations in hospitals, homes and streetlights.
It is also intended for the salaries of contract service workers and job order personnel as well as the procurement of motor vehicles for the SP office.
Despite the governor's call for "prompt action," the Ombudsman noted that the eight members delayed the budget's approval by raising objections and boycotting a regular session on June 3, preventing a quorum and stalling any official decision.
In its regular session on June 10, the eight officials, who constitute the majority of the provincial board, deleted the budgetary allocations.
In its Aug. 1, 2024 order, the Ombudsman cited the absence of written counterarguments from the SP members regarding their objections to the budget. With "sufficient grounds" and "strong evidence showing their guilt," the Ombudsman issued a preventive suspension of six months without pay against the eight SP members.
The officials returned to office in February 2025.
On Sept. 2, 2024, the Department of the Interior and Local Government appointed three temporary SP members to prevent a disruption in government services and ensure continuity in legislative functions.
