Nueva Vizcaya town vice mayor, 9 councilors to defy 6-month suspension

BAGUIO CITY — The vice mayor and nine members of the ten-member Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Bagabag town in Nueva Vizcaya vowed to defy and will seek to nullify their six-month suspension.

Bagabag Vice Mayor Johnny Sevillana said that they will file a motion for reconsideration (MR) and a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the suspension order issued last week by Gov. Jose Gambito. 

In Gambito’s suspension order dated June 25, 2024, Sevillana and Bagabag Councilors Mario Afalla, Byron Sevillana, Ferdinand Douglas Inaldo, Elpidio Torio, Martillianao Dulay, Efren Reyes, Leodevico Jallorina, Ronald Quaoil and Jezsa Mia Cadiente were ordered to vacate their office for six months for dereliction of duty and grave abuse of authority. 

In 2023, Bagabag Mayor Benigno Calauad complained against the vice mayor and the members of the Sangguniang Bayan for their alleged unexplained delay and inaction on the town’s important legislations that led to hampered services to their constituents.

Calauad also complained of the officials’ inaction to matters certified urgent by him as urgent. They also complained about the repeated return of the Annual Investment Plan (AIP) leading to the undue delay for its creation and enactment and malicious and unlawful enactment of the Annual Appropriation Ordinance for the year 2023 due to unjust holding of other business matters during the 2023 regular sessions of the SB before the enactment of the appropriation ordinance, illegal insertion of new items of appropriation not included in the executive budget and unlawful increase of the total budget reflected in the appropriation vis-a-vis the executive budget proposed. 

Sevillana, however, said that they will contest the suspension order citing proper processes were not followed before Gambito ordered them suspended.  

The embattled vice mayor also argued that the DILG cannot implement the suspension because Gambito’s order does not specify when such suspension starts.

Sevillena also vowed that they will remain functioning as SBs.