Mayor of San Pedro, Laguna and Officials Charged by Brgy. Chairman at the Ombudsman

SAN PEDRO CITY, LAGUNA - A case was filed against San Pedro City Mayor Art Joseph Mercado, Vice Mayor Divina Olivarez, 11 councilors, and other city officials for abuse of power, severe abuse of authority, oppression, and violation of the anti-graft and corrupt practices act.

Barangay Chairman Samuel Rivera of Langgam, San Pedro City, went to the Ombudsman's office in Quezon City on Monday (July 15, 2024) to file a case against the city government officials for his unjust preventive suspension before the scheduled Liga ng mga Barangay election last week.

"We filed cases against Mayor Mercado and others for severe abuse of authority after they issued a questionable preventive suspension against us, signed by his city administrator without proper grounds," said Rivera.

He added, "This is very oppressive and unconstitutional, which is why we filed these cases at the Ombudsman. The requirements to enforce preventive suspension in such cases were not present for it to be carried out."

According to Atty. Melvin Matibag, the captain's lawyer, abuse of authority and oppression have no place in San Pedro City, also condemning the injustice done to the three barangay chairmen.

The lawyer called for a calm and peaceful resolution of the issue and support for those affected.

"The preventive suspension is related to the Liga ng mga Barangay election supposedly set on July 5 but postponed by the Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas on July 4 after Brgy Chairman Rivera was suspended," said Matibag.

Not only was Rivera sentenced to preventive suspension, but also Barangay San Antonio Chairman Eugenio S. Ynion Jr. and Barangay Chrysanthemum Chairman Restituto Hernandez without due process.

"They immediately suspended us without due process to rush things because they didn't want us to vote in the Liga ng mga Barangay here in San Pedro where we have the numbers," added Rivera. "This will set a dangerous precedent if we don't do something."

Rivera is among the 14 out of 27 barangay executives considered allies of Kap. Jun Ynion Jr., a candidate for president of the Association of Barangay Chairmen (ABC) in San Pedro City.