Appelate Court Halts Antique Town Mayor’s Suspension

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Tobias Fornier, Antique, Mayor Ernesto Tajanlangit III reassumed his post Monday, Nov. 4, after the Court of Appeals (CA) granted him a temporary restraining order (TRO) against his suspension.

The CA’s 14th Division granted Tajanlangit’s petition for certiorari with an application for TRO and a writ of preliminary injunction on Oct. 30, giving the suspended mayor a 60-day TRO.

“The Court also made it clear that my right to fulfill my mandate as the duly elected mayor, as well as the right of my constituents to receive essential public services from the person they voted into office, must be protected,” he said in a statement.

Tajanlangit emphasized that the six-month preventive suspension from the Office of the Ombudsman poses a “material threat” to his rights to serve his constituents.

The Ombudsman suspended the mayor on Sept. 19 over allegations of abuse of authority, conduct unbecoming of a public official, grave misconduct, and violations of Republic Act No. 6713, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

“Since the suspension order was issued, I sought a way because I believed it was questionable,” Tajanlangit said in a Facebook live broadcast.

“God granted my prayers, and I am here today showing you that even I am happy we have proven no one is above the law. If there are injustices, there is always a higher court to correct those wrongdoings,” he added.

The suspension order stemmed from charges filed by Vice Mayor Jose Maria “Jojo” Fornier in June.

During Tajanlangit’s suspension, Fornier served as acting mayor, with Sangguniang Bayan member Rene Sandig Magdaog as acting vice mayor.

In his complaint, Fornier accused Tajanlangit of inflicting physical injuries during an altercation between them on April 29.

Fornier alleged that the mayor assaulted him in a dispute over food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development meant for residents affected by the El Niño phenomenon, which had placed the town under a state of calamity.

Tajanlangit questioned the timing of the order, noting that he first filed a complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas in May.

He also alleged that the case was “maneuvered” within the Ombudsman, citing the recent suspension of eight members of Antique’s Sangguniang Panlalawigan and Engr. Jose O. Magbanua, the building official of San Jose de Buenavista municipal government.

Tajanlangit suggested the recent suspensions follow a “pattern,” implying that someone with self-serving interests is behind the actions.