Ombudsman decision unfair, dismissed village chief says
Village head Noriel Arsulo of Brgy. Nabitasan in La Paz district, Iloilo City said the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas dismissing him for nepotism is unfair.
Arsulo, who received the dismissal order served yesterday by City Legal Office Jose Junio Jacela and City Administrator Norlito Bautista at his residence, said he is not related to Barbara Joy Ignis Aroza who, according to the complainants, is his stepdaughter whom he appointed as village secretary.
He said he never adopted Aroza nor has been exercising parental obligation over her because she is living with her grandparents.
“Gaobra lang kita sang aton obligasyon. (I was just doing my obligation). It’s been unfair on my part kay indi ko man ina paryente ang akon stepdaughter (because she is not my relative),” he said.
If Arsulo will be dismissed from his post with finality, the next highest official to punong barangay, which is a councilor, will replace Arsulo.
But Arsulo together with his lawyer Romeo Gerochi will file a motion for reconsideration on the Ombudsman decision within the week.
The Ombudsman Visayas found Arsulo guilty for nepotism after he appointed Aroza as village secretary.
Nepotism is a favoritism shown or patronage granted by a punong barangay or government employees to relatives within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity.
The case was filed in November 2007 by members of the Nabitasan barangay council.
The Ombudsman stated that Arsulo violated the provisions of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
The decision stated that the practice is a clear violation of Section 394 of the Local Government Code which provides that, “No person shall be appointed barangay secretary if he is a sangguniang barangay member, a government employee or a relative of the punong barangay within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity.”
Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog had earlier said the incident must serve as a moral lesson and warning to all village officials to avoid appointing their close relatives.
