The Office of the Ombudsman ordered a six-month preventive suspension against eight members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Antique for alleged oppression, grave abuse of authority, gross neglect of duty, and violation of Section 4 of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

The members of the Provincial Board placed under suspension are Mayella Plameras-Ladislao, Victor Condez, Egidio Elio, Alfie Jay Niquia, Rony Molina, as well as Kenneth Dave Gasalao (Sangguniang Kabataan Provincial Federation president), Plaridel Sanchez IV (Provincial Councilors League president), and Julius Cezar Tajanlangit (Liga ng mga Barangay president).

The complaints were filed by a certain Rey Ventura and one Stephen Jules Siblag.

The complaints stemmed from alleged deletion by respondents of over P700 million from the supplemental budget worth about P1 billion.

The amount should have been allocated for solar panel projects at the hospital and in over 200 barangays in the Province of Antique.

The suspension order was issued on August 1, 2024.

The order also directed that the SP members’ salaries be put on hold. 

The Ombudsman order came as a surprise to SP Member Rony Molina.

According to him, he did not even receive a copy of the complaint and that he was not allowed to answer the allegations.

Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao assured that the suspension order would not affect the work flow at the Provincial Board.

She cited that the ex-officio members will be substituted by their vice presidents to reach the required number that would suffice a quorum in Provincial Board sessions.