Mayor Yapha draws ire of Ombud

The Ombudsman has ordered Pinamungajan town mayor Jeffrey Yapha to explain his failure to implement the suspension order against one of his barangay captains.

In a letter to Yapha, acting deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Virginia Palanca Santiago said disciplinary action would be taken against him if he fails to explain his failure to implement the six-month suspension order against Tajao barangay captain Luzviminda Amarilla.

Santiago said Amarilla was supposed to be suspended without pay in August last year but Yapha allegedly failed to implement the order, adding that they had received complaint that Amarilla still performs her duties when she should have been suspended.

Santiago said they have already called Yapha's attention on the matter in November when the Department of Interior and Local Government informed them that the mayor did not implement the order.

She explained that they do not see any reason why Yapha would not implement Amarilla's suspension order because the court did not issue a temporary restraining order against it.

She said they have already warned Yapha that his failure to implement such order would mean disciplinary action against him. Yapha allegedly did not reply to the Ombudsman regarding his action on the suspension order.