The Office of the Ombudsman executed on Friday the one-month suspension of all barangay officials of Tanza-Timawa Zone II, Iloilo City over a case of simple misconduct.

The case stemmed from falsification complaints against Brgy. Captain Antonio Roberto and Kagawads Dioscoro Edibe Jr., Felma Roberto, Vhon Hofileña, Danilo Jaleo, Alken Bergantinos, Epifanio Grey and Maria Suzette Vargas; Sangguniang Kabataan Chairman Kent Grey, Secretary Lydia Melgar and Treasurer Edna Macabanti.

The accused allegedly confederated in faking the minutes of several meetings wherein the signatures of barangay kagawad Dioscoro Ebide Jr. appeared.

However, complainant Benito Beraco asserted that there’s no way that Edibe could have attended the meetings because the latter was in jail.

Edibe was accused of shooting to death Benito’s brother, Bernard, at Brgy. Tanza Timawa on January 2012.

Last month, warrants of arrest were issued against all officials for charges of seven counts of falsification of public documents.

The arrest warrants for the case docketed under Criminal Case Numbers 12-71818 to 12-71824 was issued by Judge Fe Gallon Gayanilo. The court set a bailbond of P24,000 for each case for every accused.

After several days of skirting authorities, all accused posted a bailbond.

Meanwhile, with the barangay officials’ suspension, the local office of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is waiting for the officer-in-charge who will be designated by President Benigno Aquino III.

Atty. Cedric Jaranilla, DILG-Iloilo City legal officer, explained that under the Local Government Code, only the President has the power to appoint an OIC for a barangay when its officials are under suspension.*