Ombudsman reinstates dismissed Zamboanga del Norte town mayor

GLAD TO BE BACK Sindangan Mayor Rosendo Labadlabad, in a July 13 interview, expresses elation over his reinstatement after the Office of the Ombudsman reverses its earlier decision to dismiss him from office over an illegal cockfighting case. —Leah Agonoy

SINDANGAN, ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE, Philippines — Mayor Rosendo Labadlabad was back in his post as this town’s top executive on Monday, after the Office of the Ombudsman reversed its decision barely six months ago dismissing him from service for allegedly holding “illegal cockfights.”

In a decision signed by Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer Jefferson Santiago on June 18 and approved by Ombudsman Samuel Martires on June 25, the antigraft body overturned its earlier decision by dismissing both the criminal and administrative cases against the mayor and the other respondents for lack of probable cause and substantial evidence.

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The ruling noted that the request to hold cockfights came from the barangays through their respective legislative councils, which are government units themselves; and that the cockfighting events were only held during the celebration of fiesta, a one-time event and not a regular one.

“More importantly, [holding] such cockfighting during a barangay fiesta is expressly permitted under the local government unit’s ordinance,” part of the ruling read.

It added: “All told, the criminal and administrative charges were not proven with enough evidence. Conversely, the respondents were able to prove that the holding of cockfights during barangay fiestas are in accordance with the law and in compliance with the local ordinance. Hence, this office is compelled to reconsider the findings in the assailed rulings and order the dismissal of the complaints against the respondents for lack of probable cause and substantial evidence.”

Cleared with the mayor were barangay officials Antonio Balladres Mohametano, Zosima Cañete dela Cerna, Joselito Saldon Espinas, Zandro Luching Dagondong and Rebecca Pacas Lafuente.

Sought for comment on July 13, Labadlabad said he welcomed the decision and was glad justice was served.

Vice Mayor Nilo Florentino Sy, who took over the mayor’s post after the Department of the Interior and Local Government implemented the dismissal order in January, welcomed Labadlabad back into office.

Along with Labadlabad, Mohametano, who was the elected village chief of Barangay Bago, and his treasurer, Lafuente, also returned to their duties in the barangay on Monday.