Ombudsman orders village chief dismissed from service

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – A village chief here was ordered dismissed from service by the Ombudsman after finding him guilty of simple misconduct.

Barangay Captain Noli Villarosa of Tangub was meted the penalty of dismissal from service for simple misconduct in the administrative case filed against him and Kagawad Raymund Pendon by a retired teacher for the demolition of the concrete fence of the complainant’s titled property in 2019 without the owner’s consent.

But Villarosa’s legal counsel said the former will file a motion for reconsideration.

The order signed by Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Dante Vargas and acting assistant Ombudsman for the Visayas Jane Agular indicated that the penalty of dismissal against Villarosa will carry with it accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification from holding public office and a bar from taking civil service examination, for having committed the offense of simple misconduct for the second time.

The village chief was previously found  guilty of simple misconduct in the case “Dindo S. Amadeo vs Noli B. Villarosa” by the Ombudsman.

He was then suspended from service for three months without pay.

Pendon, on the other hand, having committed and found guilty of simple misconduct for the first time, was meted a penalty of suspension from service for three months without pay, and a stern warning that a repetition of the same will be dealt more severely.

The respondents were meted the above penalties after the Ombudsman granted complainant Candido Medalla Jr.’s motion for reconsideration (MR) on the administrative aspect of the October 26, 2020 Joint Resolution, dismissing the administrative case for lack of substantial evidence.

On the other hand  Atty. Caesar Distrito, legal counsel of Villarosa, told reporters that the Ombudsman decision against his client is not yet final.

He said his client has the right to file an MR or file an appeal to the Court of Appeals.