The Office of the Ombudsman – Visayas suspended three barangay officials of Bacolod City’s Barangay 7 due to abuse of authority and grave misconduct.

In an 11-page decision dated July 16, signed by graft investigation and prosecution officer Marilyn Israel Torres, Ombudsman issued a three-month suspension against Punong Barangay Hercy Sibug, her husband Kagawad Bernabe Sibug and barangay treasurer Edmar Base.

The order was favored by Assistant Ombudsman-Visayas Gaudioso Melendez, and was approved by Deputy Ombudsman-Visayas Dante Vargas.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by Cresensiano Torres against the three village officials in June 2023.

Based on the complaint, Torres alleged that in 2019, the respondents asked him for a P140,000 loan in 2019 for the salaries of the barangay council and employees, including tanods and barangay health workers.

However, in the officials’ counter-affidavit, they denied that the loan was for the salaries of their barangay personnel.

The respondents promised to pay the loan within a month.

Torres again demanded the officials to pay the loan, but they still could not make payments.

On January 15, 2020, the respondents paid their loan by issuing a blank check under Barangay 7’s bank account and signed by Bernabe.

Torres said the bank did not acknowledge the check because there was “no advice on file.”

The complainant discovered that Bernabe was not the barangay captain of Barangay 7 when the check was issued.

Based on the findings of substantial evidence, the Ombudsman said the village officials are liable for simple misconduct and are subject to a penalty of three months suspension without pay.

Barangay 7 Kagawad Zaldy Bautista confirmed that the suspension order was served on Monday afternoon, September 2.

Kagawad Christian Jake Arenas will serve as the acting barangay captain of Barangay 7./WDJ