Barangay chief suspended

CEBU, Philippines — Inayawan, Cebu City Barangay Captain Kirk Repollo is under suspension for a month and a day, starting yesterday afternoon.

Repollo himself announced the Office of the Ombudsman’s order over his Facebook account, after the Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) implementation of the penalty for the “simple misconduct” offense.

“Kagahapong adlawa, nakigkita kanako ang DILG City Director, Dr. Neila Aquino, kuyog si Sir Michael Eltanal, aron pagpahibalo kanako ug e serve ang DECISION SA OMBUDSMAN nga pahamtangan akog Usa ka Buwan ug Usa ka Adlaw (one month and one day),” stated his social media post.

Repollo explained that the suspension was due to an unnamed individual who requested for a barangay certification for a land survey, which he refused to give as the person failed to bring the required documents.

“Ato siyang giingnan nga dili ta pwede makadiretsog issue niana kay hilabi na maapil nila’g survey ang ubang mga yuta ug sigurado gayud nga moalma ang ubang nanag-iyag yuta kung nganong gisurvey og apil ang ilahang yuta SAMOT PA GAYUD nga dili siya sigurado kung asa didto ilang yuta,” he said.

“Busa, aron paglikay sa bisan unsa pa unyang motumaw nga possibleng reklamo o kagubot, ato siyang girequire nga magdalag bisag unsang document nga maka-certify lang nga ang ilang yuta kay tipik gayud niadtong naa sa sketch plan... Kay gawas pa sab, bisan isa sa BOUNDARIES nga nakabutang sa ilang tax declaration kay wala gani makita sa maong sketch plan,” Repollo said.

He said that to his surprise later on, he received a copy of a complaint from the Office of the Ombudsman for “grave abuse of authority.”

Repollo, a lawyer himself said, he also responded to such complaint and already had a clarificatory hearing for it.

“Pagniaging Septembre, nakadawat ako sa Desisyon of SIMPLE MISCONDUCT sa Ombudsman nga adunay penalty nga suspensyon ug ipaagi sa DILG Cebu City ang pag-implementar niini…WALA NILA GIAPROBAHAN ang reklamo nga Grave Abuse of Authority tungod kay ilang nakita nga ang atong gibuhat WALAY SAYOP NGA KATUYOAN, WALAY PAGPANLIMBONG ug WALAY TUYO NGA MANGORAP,” he said.

Repollo already filed a motion for reconsideration for the reversal of the decision.

“APAN tungod kay kinahanglan man gayud e-execute kini bisan pa man og mag-MR o moappelar (execution pending appeal), ug isip usa ka abogado, ato kining gidawat apan dili kita moundang sa pwede pa natong mabuhat nga atong malimpyo ang atong pangalan,” Repollo said.

He assured the Inayawanons, though, that while he is under suspension, services by the barangay will remain unhampered, under councilman Lito Comendador as the acting barangay captain.

“Magpadayon ra gihapon ang tanang serbisyo sa barangay bisan pa man niini,” Repollo said.  — (FREEMAN)