By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
The Office of the Ombudsman has found eight members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Antique province guilty of multiple administrative offenses and ordered their one-year suspension without pay.
The suspended officials are Egidio P. Elio, Rony L. Molina, Victor R. Condez, Alfie Jay O. Niquia, Plaridel E. Sanchez IV, Mayella Mae P. Ladislao, Kenneth Dave B. Gasalao, and Julius Cezar O. Tajanlangit.
The Ombudsman’s decision, approved on March 10, 2025, found them guilty of grave abuse of authority, grave misconduct, and conduct unbecoming of a public officer for failing to act on a supplemental budget proposed by Governor Rhodora Cadiao.
If the suspension cannot be imposed due to retirement or separation from service, the officials will instead face a fine equivalent to one year’s basic salary, payable to the Ombudsman.
Meanwhile, the charge of gross neglect of duty was dismissed due to lack of merit.
Budget Controversy
The administrative complaint was filed in July 2024 by Rey Ventura, barangay captain of Bontol, Sibalom, Antique, and Steph Jules Siblag, president of Amazing Youth Antique.
The complainants accused the SP officials of gross neglect or dereliction of duty for failing to allocate funds for essential public welfare projects under Supplemental Budget No. 1 for 2024.
The PHP 1.075-billion budget was intended to fund programs and projects using Antique’s share of national wealth.
A significant portion—PHP 765 million—was allocated for electricity services, including the installation of solar power systems in hospitals, homes, and streetlights.
The budget also covered salaries for contract service workers and job order personnel, as well as the procurement of motor vehicles for the SP office.
Despite being marked for “prompt action” by Cadiao, the officials allegedly deliberately delayed approval.
Ombudsman Ruling
In an August 1, 2024 order, the Ombudsman noted that the accused officials failed to submit written counter-arguments against the budget and relied only on oral objections, particularly regarding solar power allocations.
During the SP’s regular session on June 10, 2024, the officials removed the budget allocations, despite receiving detailed explanations from the provincial administrator.
The Ombudsman initially imposed a six-month suspension without pay, with the officials returning to office in February 2025.
To ensure continuity of government services, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) appointed three temporary SP members on September 2, 2024.
Election Implications
Three of the now-suspended SP officials are candidates in the 2025 midterm elections.
Egidio Elio and Alfie Jay Niquia are seeking reelection, while Plaridel Sanchez IV, who currently sits as an ex-officio SP member as president of the Philippine Councilors’ League Antique chapter, is running for a regular seat on the provincial board.
