Suspended Malabanias chairman Rey “Jumong” Gueco
ANGELES CITY — “We respect the recommendations of the city council of Angeles but it must be in accordance with the law.”
Thus, Barangay Malabanias chairman Rey “Jumong” Gueco commented on the suspension order imposed on him by the city council which, he said, he has not yet received as of Monday, March 29.
This, even as second councilman Amado Lalic had taken his oath of office as the acting barangay chair of Malabanias before Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr. and Department of the Interior and Local Government undersecretary for barangay affairs Martin Diño last March 26.
Gueco said, in a phone interview Monday, that he is willing to vacate his position as soon as the preventive suspension is issued “with due process.”
“Nangangailangan lang tayo ng isang kapirasong papel either executive order or letter na pirmado po ni mayor. Bababa po tayo,” said Gueco.
“What I am wondering is…it’s just a simple correspondence, a simple letter coming from the mayor, ano ang nagpipigil sa kanya na magpadala ng isang order na ako po ay suspended? In reality po may recommendation na ng city council. Bakit hindi pa niya ilabas ang order?” he added.
Gueco’s appeal to the mayor to issue the preventive suspension in accordance with the law is, he said, in order to prevent confusion among the officials and residents of the barangay.
“I’m appealing to the mayor para di na nagkakaroon ng kalituhan sa barangay. And being public officials, we are bound to execute what is proper, what is written in the law. Pagka–receive na pagka–receive ko, bababa po ako,” said Gueco.
Gueco, along with councilmen Crisino Pantig, Edwin Nacu, and Alexander Flores were slapped by the sangguniang panlungsod with a 60-day preventive suspension for Administrative Case No. SP35-2021 or Grave Misconduct, Gross Negligence, and Abuse of Authority in relation to violation of Ordinance No. 533, series of 2020 (PO-122-04-2020) also known as “An Ordinance Strengthening Republic Act 11469 otherwise known as ‘Bayanihan to Heal as One Act’ and Providing specific City Policies relative to COVID-19 prevention, control, and management.”
The case arose from a barangay general assembly in November posted in social media showing the barangay officials in violation of health protocols such as not wearing face masks and face shields, no physical distancing, among others.
Gueco was also ordered an additional 30-day suspension on Administrative Case No. SP34-2021 or the Grave Misconduct, Gross Negligence and Abuse of Authority in relation to violation of Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Disease and Health Concerns Act, Section 4.1 on Illegal Profiteering. However, the profiteering case against barangay-appointed officials secretary Igmidio Pantig, administrator Jason Supan, and barangay tanod Victor Casupanan was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. The case was ordered to be forwarded to the office of the city legal for proper disposition and appropriate action.
