By JOSEPH GREGORIO
www.nordis.net
BAGUIO CITY — Officials of a village in Bangued, the capital of Abra, were suspended for making irresponsible trash dumping punishable by “execution.”
Calaba Punong Barangay Renato Brasuela and five village council members received a 90-day suspension. The other officials are Marjun Santiago, Rosemel Viado, Marlbour Jude Valera, Carmelita Venus, and Sangguniang Kabataan Chair Darryl Blanes.
Bangued town mayor Mila Valera ordered them to vacate their posts temporarily after the Sangguiang Bayan found them guilty of grave misconduct, grave abuse of authority, gross neglect of duty, gross dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
The suspension stemmed from an ordinance imposed in February that sparked a public outcry in the community. A tarpaulin on the road in Calaba containing the monetary penalties, with a gun image placed on the third offense, also generated buzz on social media.
The legislation fines irresponsible garbage dumping of P1000 for the first offense, P1,000 and eight hours of community service for the second offense, and “getting shot” for the third offense. The ordinance also did not pass the Sangguniang Bayan for review before its implementation.
The municipal council placed Brasuela and the five officials under preventive suspension on May 3, pending an investigation of the administrative cases leveled against them. # nordis.net
