Batangas mayor charged over village chief’s ouster

State prosecutors have charged the mayor of Laurel, Batangas province, at the Sandiganbayan for allegedly kicking out the head of the town’s barangay captains so he can be replaced by a new one.

Mayor Randy James Amo and Barangay Poblacion 3 Captain Severino Endaya Jr. were charged by the Office of the Ombudsman for one count of violating Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Amo allegedly removed Barangay Bugaan West Captain Eusebio Bilog on Nov. 16, 2012, as Association of Barangay Captains  president and withheld his salary.

The mayor also ordered that an election be held, and Endaya was elected in Bilog’s place, according to the charge sheet. Bilog’s ouster, however, allegedly violated the constitution and bylaws of the Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas. —Vince F. Nonato