Antique town mayor suspended for six months

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Office of the Ombudsman ordered the six-month preventive suspension of Mayor Ernesto Tajanlangit III of Tobias Fornier, Antique, effective Wednesday, Sept. 19, over allegations of abuse of authority and grave misconduct.

The suspension, signed by Deputy Ombudsman Jose Balmeo Jr., follows charges filed in June by Vice Mayor Jose Maria “Jojo” Fornier. Tajanlangit is accused of violating Republic Act No. 6713, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, and engaging in conduct unbecoming of a public official.

In an interview, Tajanlangit expressed confusion over the timing of his suspension, noting that he had filed a complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas in May.

“I am wondering why I received a complaint yesterday along with an order from the Ombudsman to submit my counter-affidavit within ten days. But upon reviewing it, I noticed that the order came from the central office, whereas our case is with the Visayas office,” Tajanlangit said.

He alleged that the case had been “maneuvered” within the Ombudsman, citing recent suspensions of local officials, including members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Antique and Engr. Jose O. Magbanua, the building official of San Jose de Buenavista.

Tajanlangit suggested that these suspensions followed a “pattern,” implying that political motives may be involved.

“We will exhaust all legal remedies because I am aggrieved here. This is difficult because we are being attacked personally in politics,” Tajanlangit added.

During Tajanlangit’s suspension, Vice Mayor Fornier will serve as acting mayor, with Sangguniang Bayan member Rene Sandig Magdaog stepping in as acting vice mayor.

The charges against Tajanlangit stem from an altercation with Fornier on April 29.

According to Fornier, the mayor allegedly assaulted him during a dispute over food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, intended for residents affected by the El Niño phenomenon.

Fornier claimed he had secured more than 500 food packs for the town, but Tajanlangit blocked the delivery truck.

The mayor explained that he was preventing the distribution because the proper procedures were not followed.