CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the suspension of the mayor, vice mayor, and five members of the sangguniang bayan of San Simon, Pampanga for “simple neglect of duty and simple misconduct” in the reclassification of a parcel of land in 2020.
In a 15-page decision signed by Ombudsman Samuel Martires on June 23, Mayor Abundio S. Punsalan Jr., Vice Mayor Romanoel L. Santos, and SP members Mark Pineda Macapagal, Irene Bagtas David, Irene B. Dagdag, Randell P. Bondoc, Archiebald Simbulan Basilio, and Alekseyevich Y. Vergara were meted the penalty of six-month suspension from service. Punto! obtained a copy of the decision in PDF on Aug. 9.
The case stemmed from a complaint “for grave misconduct and neglect of duty” filed by 16 San Simon residents alleging that Ordinance No. 20-005, which reclassified 14,822 square meters of land from agricultural to industrial and commercial use, was approved and passed without deliberations on Jan. 14, 2020.
In the decision, the Ombudsman ruled that the respondents’ “negligence and misconduct” did not result in a “flagrant and palpable breach of duty or involved corruption and willful intent to violate law and disregard established rules.”
Thereby, Punsalan Jr., Santos, et al should only be held liable for “simple neglect of duty and simple misconduct” and not gross neglect of duty or grave misconduct as charged.
The Ombudsman directed the Department of the Interior and Local to Government “to implement the decision immediately upon receipt thereof.”
Previous suspensions
On July 9, 2021, the DILG served a six-month suspension order on Punsalan Jr. after the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Pampanga found him and five other councilors guilty of “dishonesty, grave misconduct in office, gross negligence, gross dereliction of duty, and grave abuse of authority” over the purchase of parcel of land near the municipal hall in 2020.
SP Resolution No. 6786 unanimously approved by members of the provincial board “confirmed and adopted en toto” the decision of its committee on justice, good governance and accountability on Administrative Case No. 03-2020 against Punsalan Jr. and members of the town council filed by one Reymundo Almario.
On Nov. 6, 2020, Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda ordered the two-month preventive suspension of Punsalan Jr. and councilors Romanoel Santos, Mark Macapagal, Irene Dagdag, Randell Bondoc, Archiebald Basilio, and Alekseyevich Vergara on the strength of SP Resolution No. 5529 arising from the same administrative case over the land purchase.
Punto tried but failed to contact the respondents as of posting time. The publication fully respects their right of reply is open to air their side. Punto News Team
