Ombudsman disqualifies ex-Quezon mayor

LUCBAN, Quezon, Philippines – A former mayor of this town, who was found guilty of grave misconduct and serious dishonesty, has been disqualified from holding public office.

Former Lucban mayor Moises Villaseñor’s eligibility was also cancelled and his retirement benefits forfeited, according to an eight-page order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman on March 11 and received by the municipal government of Lucban last week.

Mayor Celso Olivier Dator filed the complaint after two unmetered water pipelines in Barangay Samil were found connected to Villaseñor’s house.

The unmetered water pipelines were installed when Villaseñor was mayor in 2008. Another unauthorized water pipeline was discovered during a follow-up inspection in September 2014.

Villaseñor, currently the chairman of Barangay Samil, is running for mayor under the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan. He is running against Dator of the Nationalist People’s Coalition.