TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Philippines — The vice mayor of Alangalang town in Leyte province was slapped with a 60-day preventive suspension after facing a complaint for alleged abuse of power before the provincial board over the closure of a cockpit arena when he was still a councilor in 2017.
Gov. Leopoldo Dominico Petilla said he reviewed the complaint and deemed it proper to suspend Vice Mayor Edwin Jomadiao while an investigation was being conducted. Petilla’s order was dated April 14 but was only received by Jomadiao on May 4.
The suspension of Jomadiao stemmed from a complaint filed by Lowell Marmita, one of the representatives of Alangalang Complex and Gallera Inc., who claimed the councilor committed grave abuse of authority and oppression after he ordered the closure of the cockpit arena in March 2017 when it was only the town mayor who had the right to issue such an order.