Suspended Antique SP Members Question Ombudsman’s Fairness

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The controversy involving the suspension of eight Sangguniang Panlalawigan members in Antique continues.

In a recent statement, the eight SP members — Egidio Elio, Rony Molina, Victor Condez, Alfie Jay Niquia, Mayella Mae Plameras-Ladislao, Plaridel Sanchez IV, Kenneth Dave Gasalao and Julius Cezar Tajanlangit — expressed concern over the Office of the Ombudsman’s filing of a complaint against Court of Appeals justices before the Supreme Court’s Judicial Integrity Board.

They said the complaint, which was quickly shared with media outlets, creates an unfair impression that the justices are already guilty of the accusations.

They called the move alarming, alleging that the Ombudsman appears to undermine the judiciary’s independence.

The group said the proper legal step had already been taken when the Ombudsman elevated the matter to the Supreme Court for review.

“The filing of an administrative complaint — and more troublingly, the active facilitation or toleration of its publication — raises serious questions about propriety and motive,” they said.

They further expressed concern over what they called the “appearance of partiality” by the Ombudsman.

They cited circulating photographs showing the Ombudsman attending the birthday celebration of the Antique governor, who is the principal complainant in the case, and conversing casually with her legal counsel.

They clarified they are not questioning any official’s right to attend private functions.

However, they said such associations, when combined with publicized legal offensives and selective media leaks, foster perceptions of bias that could undermine public trust.

Despite their concerns, the suspended officials reiterated their trust in the judicial system.

“Let the courts — not press releases, not public speculation — determine the legality of any issuance or action,” they said.

They called for sobriety, fairness and strict adherence to due process.

They urged the Ombudsman and all public officials to allow the justice system to operate independently and free from media pressure or personal connections.

On March 21, the Office of the Ombudsman filed a complaint before the Judicial Integrity Board against seven Court of Appeals justices for gross ignorance of the law and conduct prejudicial to public service.

Named in the complaint were Associate Justices Louis P. Acosta, Marlene B. Gonzales-Sison, Rex Bernardo L. Pascual, Mary Charlene V. Hernandez-Azura, Roberto P. Quiroz, Rafael Antonio M. Santos and Ferdinand C. Baylon.

The Ombudsman questioned the justices’ issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) in November 2024, which blocked the implementation of the suspension order against the eight Antique SP members.

The SP members had earlier challenged their suspension, arguing that it could not be enforced during the election period.

In an 18-page decision, Ombudsman Samuel Martires approved the suspension based on the recommendation of Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer III Leilani Tagulao-Marquez and Assistant Ombudsman Pilarita Lapitan.

The eight were found guilty of grave abuse of authority, grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of public officers.

They were sanctioned for scrapping the budget for three solar projects included in the proposed PHP1.075-billion supplemental budget for 2024.

The suspension order, dated March 7, was served to the eight SP members on March 17.

In their petition, the SP members cited election prohibitions under the Omnibus Election Code and Commission on Elections Resolution No. 11059.

Last week, the Comelec provincial office in Antique sought legal guidance on whether the eight officials may continue attending SP sessions during the election period despite the Ombudsman’s order.

The Comelec acknowledged the argument that the suspension, served within the election period, may be unenforceable.