DILG: 12 barangay heads violating 3-term limit

MANILA, Philippines - Twelve barangay chiefs, four of them from Metro Manila, have allegedly violated the three-term limit on tenure, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

In a report submitted to Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, Director John Castañeda of the National Barangay Operations Office (NBOO) said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) had formally proclaimed the 12 winners.

Castañeda said 26 barangay chiefs who have served more than one term ran sought reelection in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections last Oct. 25. NBOO records showed that 12 of them won while 14 lost.         

Castaneda identified the 12 reelected village chiefs as Mario Cajucom of Barangay 3; Conrado Cruz of Barangay 12; Vicente Que of Barangay 106, and Othello Ocampo of Barangay 136, all from Caloocan City; Enrique Bautista of Barangay Barrientos, Luna, La Union; Noel Lomboy of Barangay Ribusan, Naguilian, La Union; Douglas Hagedorn of Barangay San Miguel, Puerto Princesa City; Rogelio Carbonell of Barangay Old Moriones, Ocampo, Camarines Sur.

Also re-elected were Ofelia Pati-on of Barangay Tabun-ac, Toboso, Negros Occidental; Gregorio Canda of Barangay Botoc Occidental, Loay, Bohol; Bartolome Figueroa of Barangay Bagacay, Daram, Samar; and Bienvenido Tubog of Barangay New Kidapawan, Kibawe, Bukidnon.

Castañeda said there were pending electoral protest against the 11 re-elected barangay officials, except for Pati-on.

Last Sept. 24, the DILG submitted to the Comelec a list of 4,404 barangay heads on their 3rd and 4th consecutive terms and are therefore disqualified from seeking re-election.

Section 2 of Republic Act 9164, or An Act Providing for the Synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections stipulates that no barangay official shall serve for more than three consecutive terms.

Last Nov. 15, however, the Comelec issued Resolution 9100 allowing the proclamation of reelected barangay chiefs despite having served beyond their term limit.

The Comelec said the barangay officials named in the report did not undergo the due process of electoral protests.